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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
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CRASSUS ; 



OR. 



THE GRAVE BY THE CEDARS. 



A DRAMA, 



„^ BEAUCHAKP TEMPLE 

61 'I 






New York, 
1881. 



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FROM "FROTIDE'S C^SAR.'' 

"More noticeable than either of these was Marcus 
Crassns, a figure singularly representative of ple- 
beian family, * * the leader and impersonation 
of the great moneyed classes in Rome. Wealth 
had for several generations been the characteristics 
of the Crassi. They had the instinct and the tem- 
perament which in civilized ages take to money- 
making as a natural occupation. His eye for busi- 
ness reached over the whole Roman Empire. He 
was banker, speculator, contractor, merchant. He 
lent money to the sj^endthrift young lords; but 
with sound securities and at usurious interest. He 
had an army of slaves; but these slaves were not 
ignorant field hands; they were skilled workmen in 
all arts and trades, whose labors he turned to profit 
in building streets and palaces. He was the 
wealthiest single individual in the whole Empire, 
tlie acknowledj^ed head of tlie business woi'ld of 
Rome." 



PREFACE. 

The author is keenly alive to the difficulty of 
constracting a good acting play replete with life 
and action, with interest unflagging, and moving 
evenly and crisply towards the unraveling of the 
plot. Each act should be a perfect picture in itself, 
with its own interest tending with accelerated 
motion towards an impressive finish : while each 
successive act should advance the unfolding of the 
plot without either clumsy suggestion or premature 
disclosure. The language, again, should be spark- 
ling, natural, full of meaning and empty of verbiage: 
while the whole business of the play should be a 
pleasing representation of an attractive, moral and 
intellectual story. Dramatic effect may be pro- 
duced hj incidents which do not involve absurdity 
or contradiction: and the men and women contri- 
buting to the development of the plot must not be 
brought together by any occult powers of enchant- 
ment. 

The play of "Crassus" is original in name, plot, 
incidents and treatment. Whether this be a merit 
or not, it may be of service to the critic when esti- 
mating its value as a dramatic composition. Its 
aim is to "hold the mirror up" to actual modern 
life; to show "the form and pressure" of "the very 
age and body" of our time by the words and actions 
of living men and women whom w6 see and know 
in daily life. While the whole structure of the 
work is dramatic and full of action, the characters 
have but little resemblance to the conventional 
dramatis per s once of our romantic stage. 

This, again, may not be a merit : fqr a romantic 
plot, with its wild and impracticable incidents, 
contains the very elements which captivate the 
"unskillful," while making the "judicious grieve." 



Among Shakespeare's "judicious" the author 
would include those who think with Dryden that a 
play ought to be "a Just image of human nature^" 
not a fantastical kaleidoscope of beautiful colors 
and symmetrical forms. In departing from the 
conventional romanticism of our stage we must 
acknowledge that the fictional dramatists have 
afforded amusement and intellectual pleasure by 
their fantastical and unnatural productions. And 
this is not surprising, for the end of poetry is to 
give pleasure without any laborious exercise of the 
understanding. Its aim is neither the acquirement 
nor communication of truth ; but to touch the 
passions and lead them on the side of virtue. 

Real and unfeigned humanity, with its common 
surroundings and trivial incidents, is seldom wel- 
comed on the stage in its primary colors. Between 
the audience and the proscenium there would seem 
to be a magic prism refracting the sunlight of truth 
into the prismatic colors of fiction. Behind the 
curtain is an imaginary world but little akin to our 
real one. The inhabitants of that fairy-land often 
discard the common language of society, and are 
endowed with passions, powers and accomplish- 
ments beyond those allotted to ordinary mortals. 
They are favored by miraculous escapes ; are 
familiar with occurrences which cannot be explained 
by any known law of nature; and they live and 
move in a world of wonders and marvels which 
excite our admiration and amazement almost as 
much as the feats of a juggler. 

The author of "Crassus," though alive to the 
beauty and value of the romantic, has endeavored to 
keep within the limits of the real, while bearing in 
mind that "dramatic effect is the proper subject of 
dramatic art." Reality is often more startling than 
romance: and the probabilities of existence more 
impressively interesting than the marvellous im- 
possibilities of fiction. 



The episode in the life of our modern "Crassus" 
is developed by men and women of marked indivi- 
duality who are necessary accomjDaniments to the 
story. It will be found to be an intei-esting chapter 
of visible history setting oat the image of things 
actually going on in our midst, though not generally 
brought to light. It is developed in four acts; each 
act being a set scene. 

Though the active emotions of love, hatred, joy 
and grief have no settled geogra]3hical boundaries, 
there are phases of humanity peculiar to special 
developments of society. ' 'Crassus' ' and his friends 
are Americans: and the visible history of their lives 
is witnessed in New York and a mining camp in 
Colorado, — the cultured, conservative wealthy 
metropolis, and the crude, impre meditated dttt- 
growth of our mineral resources. ' ^^ 

The "star" system of theatrical managem'^Jit 
would be found inadequate to do justice to the play 
before us. The leading characters are aided by the 
strong individuality of each of the others, and take 
their natural places and normal proportions on the 
theatrical canvas. 

The stage business has been marked and arranged 
by A. E. Lawrene, to whose valuable suggestions, 
and practical experience of the exigencies of the 
actual work of the stage the author is deeply and 
gratefully indebted. 

BEUA\CHATtfp Temple. 



CHARACTERS. 

John J. Cartridge, a Millionaire. 

Leonard Trellis. 

Michael, a Servant, afterwards Confidential Valet 

to Trellis. 
Father Manna, a Missionary Priest. 
Judge Treveltan, of the Supreme Court. 
Col. Ltndhurst. 
Bishop, of Buifalo. 
Makquis oe Monteith. 
Nolan, a Detective. 
Braokett, a Desperado. 
Dave Selwyn, a Forty-niner, . 
Mormon Bill, V Miners. 

Ike, ) 

Edward John Forbes, of tlie Secret Service, 

(known as "Dutcliie," a Miner. 
PoMPEY, a Colored Servant. 
Maud Ltndhurst. 
Mrs. Ltndhurst. 
Mother Superior. 
Sister Agatha. 
Minnie Selwtn. 
Mrs. Neville. 

Betst, Mormon Bill's Wife. 
Miners, Nuns, Acolytes, Tlinrifer, Cross Bearer, &c. 



CRASSUS. 

ACT I. 

SCENE — Madison Avenue, New York. Colonel 
Lyndhursfs House, l., ^oith Yeranddh and Gar- 
den. Railings to run from '2 r. to back of stage, 
forming the roadway. Convent r. u. e. 

Discovered Pompey on Verandah toith broom, 
Michael trimming Jiowers in pots. 

Pomp. We are going to win pop sliuah tiiis time, 
Michael. 

Mrci-i. [Jiardly noticing him.^ Who's we? 

Pomp. Tlie free and enlightened party of progress, 
liberty and 'mancipation — the glorious sons of 
patriotic Republicans. 

Mich. You mean the colored sons of patriotic 
abolitionism. 

Pomp: No, sah; not by no manner of means. Color 
is gone, race absorbed, servitood evaporated in 
the warm rays of freedom's sun. 

M[CH. Is the suu Republican, Pomp ? 

Pomp. Yes, Michael, and the moon and the stars, 
and all the fiery orbits of the heavingly con- 
stellations ; none of 'em is Democratic above, 
bat plenty below with Belzebub. 

Mich. Do you rank the great Dimocratic'party of 
State rights championism with the fallen angels ? 

Pomp. I does, Michael: Rebellion in heaven is not 
wus than rebellion on earth. 

Mich. Was George Washington a rebel ? 

Pomp. No. sah ! 

Mich. What? 

Pomp. Yes, sah, to a limited portion of extent; but 
success showed he was a standin' on moral 
principles — 

Mich. Do you know you're standin' on my toes? 

Pomp. I wasn't aw;ire of the fac', Michael- I res- 
pec' every man's feelin's — even the feelin's of a 
foreignei'. 

Mich. A foreigner ? What's a nigger ? 

Pomp. A free-born native American ! 



Mich. Are slaves free-boin ( 

Pomp. Slaves? The word was spnnf^ed, wiped from 
our 'Merican dictionary by the blood that 
flowed at — 

Mich. Bull Run ? 

Pomp. Michael, your foreign extraction disentitles 
you to "preciate the feelin's that glows in the 
buzzum of a native Anieiican. 

Mich. What x>a'i't of Timbnctoo do yt)ar ancestors 
hail from, Pomp ? 

Pomp. My great grandfather's grandfather was 
cultivatin' cotton in old Virginny before Chris- 
topher Columbus discovered the rockj' coast of 
Kerry. 

Mich. Why yer splatherin' ignorammus, the Qninns 
were monarchs of Kerry ten thousand yeais be- 
fore a nigger hoed cotton in the Cannibal islands. 

Pomp. Michael, its not for me to waste time in 
'lightenin' foreigners; but when yei' learns to 
read the history of this eagle-soarin' republic, 
that spi-eads its freedom's flag from pole to pole, 
and echoes its song of liberty fioni the Rocky 
Mountains to the great lakes, whei-e the sun 
never sets, yer' 11 drop the scales from yer daik- 
ened vision, and yer' 11 then see — 

Mich. What? 

Pomp. The essence of history's revelation. 

Mich. What's that, Pomp? 

Pomp. Yei-'U then see that my ancestors — of James 
Town, Virginny — were preparin' to clothe the 
old world of Europe with its Solomon's raiment 
of cotton before the timber tliat built tlie May- 
flower was cut from the oak forests of England 
by her down-trodden arid libertylovin' sons of 
pilgrim fathers. 

Mich. I5ravo, Pomp, they ought to send you to 
Congress. 

PoiMP. Michael, have yer seen anythin' (jf a cor- 
ruptin' tendency in Pompey Jackson that you 
should connect his hcmest career witli the down- 
sweepin' degragation's path tluit leads to the 
halls of Congress ? 

Mich. You're not a candidate for office then ; 

Pomp. No; I values the early instilment of recti- 
tood's principles, and scorns the flatteier"s 
grasp of bribery's palm. I'm an indepejideiit 
voter — not a candidate I 



3 

Mich. And the Colonel i 

Pomp. Ah ! Michael, there yon touch the tenderest 
corn of my bnrnin' sorrowful feelin's. 

Mich. Sorry to hurt yer, Pomp, but yer'U own the 
Republicans have behaved shabbily to him ? 

Pomp. The Colonel is too good and too simple — too 
honest for a full-blooded politician. He's got 
honor, he speaks his mind — in fact, he's horri- 
bly handicapped in the race for office. 

Mich, The honest Dimocratic party would have 
long since made him Senator, sent him to the 
court of St. James', given him West Point. 

Pomp. Perhaps they would; but, Michael, there's 
a mysterious influence — 

Mich. A nigger in the fence, eh 'i 

PcjMP. Suppress your vulgar habit of personal 
allusion, Michael — 

Mich. All right, Pomp; what's the mystery 1 

Pomp. I could a tale unfold — 

Mich, [looking beJiind Pomp] The deuce you could? 

Pomp. Yes, Michael; a tale of treachery — a big- 
spider — a simple fly^ 

Mich. You mean Cartridge — 

PoMP: And Miss Maud — " 

Mich. And Leonard Trellis ? 

Pomp. I don't throw pearls of wisdom to swine — 

Mich. Am I a swine, yer — [threatening'] 

Pomp. No, Michael, I'm discoursing metaphorically. 

Mich. I'd smash yer metaphorically if I thought 
you C(jnnected me wid a pig. 

Pomp. No, Michael; lam aware that St. Patrick 
l)anished the pigs from Kerry ! The Quinns 
would scorn to associate with a pig! 

Mich. The Quinns wouldn't scorn to damage a nig- 
gei' who'd venture to poke fun at them: but go 
on, Pomp 

Pomp. Can you see through a mill -stone ? 

Mich. As far as you. Pomp or any other man. 

Pomp. Well then sharpen up yer optical machinery 
and ver'll see something. 

Mich. What? 

Pomp. Cheese it, Mike; here's the Colonel ! 

Mich. God bless iiini; I'm sorry lie's not a Dimo- 
■ crat. ■ EXEUNT, l. u. 

ENTER Colonel LYNDiiUK.'^r, smoking, loith 
Maud, from Hoiifte. 



Col. (l.) Now, my dear Maud, you must listen to 
reason. You know how matters have gone 
from l)ad to worse. Six years ago I was inde- 
pendent, even wealtiiy, and conkl afford to say 
and do as I pleased. 

Maud. And now ''. 

Col. Am bound and fettered; tottering under a load 
of debt and difficulty. 

Maud. We ai'e only jioor, and poverty is neither a 
crime nor a disgrace. 

Col. I am sorry to say that in fact, if not in theory, 
it is both criminal and disgraceful. Bat we are 
a long way below simple poverty. 

Maud. Why can't we sell Oaklands'^ 

CoL. Sell it? Why it's mortgaged to the very 
chimney pots. 

Maud. And the house in Gramercy Park { 

CoL. Ours only in name. 

Maud. But your mines bring something? 

CoL. Yes — assessments. 

Maud. And yet we are living in tolerable luxury. 

CoL. Of course we are. Every one is living at high 
pressure in New York; with increasing speed 
as we near the inevitable. 

Maud, {approaclting him.] Surely not absolutely 
inevitable ? 

Col. <^^nly one man can save us. 

Maud. Cartridge? 

Col. Yes; John J. Cartridge: the man of luck and 
enterprize — the all-powerful, tlie farieacliing ! 

Maud. Is he very rich ? 

Col. Rich? His wealth is fabulous! All his under- 
takings prosper; everything he touches turns 
to gold. He is a veritable nineteenth century 
Crassus 

Maud. Do you mean Marcus Cras.sus, the great 
moneyed power of Rome ? 

CoL. Yes; the banker, speculator, contractor and 
merchant: the wealthiest single individual in 
the whole empire — the acknowledged head of 
the business world of Home ! 

Maud. But you are not in business. 

Col. The power of Cartridge is far-reaching — his 
influence is electric, and could as easily clear 
away my difficulties as I can l)rush away tlie 
fragrant clouds of this Havana. 

Maud. Are you sure he is disposed to aid yon '. 



Col. Certainly; and he alone can prevent the smash- 
np, and land us all in' safety. 

Ma ud And why does he hesitate to exert his power ? 

Col. John Cartridge never wastes power; he con- 
verts it to use, and intends it to be productive. 

Maud. I understand. And what does he ask in 
return for his merciful interference^ 

CoL. Your hand. 

Maud My hand ? 

Col. 'Yes. 

Mattd. And — heart 'i 

Col. He is not exacting. He probably reckons 
upon the heart accompanying, or at least 
following the hand. ' • 

Maud. One may control the hand, but not the 
heart. 

CoL. Well, John is not given to sentiment, and 
deals hut little in hearts and affections, or what 
he calls "effervescing moonshine." He states 
his case plainly; he wants to marry, and would 
like Maud Lyndhurst for a wife. 

Maud. Very business like. 

CoL. Exactly. He has vast and important transac- 
, tions; wastes no time in fruitless negotiation, 
makes a bid and looks for a prompt reply. 

Maud. Has lie made you an offer for the merchan- 
dise — [he looks at her] — the hand I mean with- 
out the heart ? 

Col. He makes a handsome offer. He will stand in 
the gap, bridge over the gulf — in a word, save 
me, us from destruction ! 

Maud, [crossing l.] I wish I conld help you. 

CoL. Help us l Our futni-e depends solely upon 
your decision. 

Maud, [l.c] I am virtnalJy married already. 

Col. Married i 

Maud. Yon know I have promised my hand, my 
heart, juy love to Leonard Trellis. 

Col. Fiddlededee I Trellis is ns ^xjor as ourselves. 
Peihaps not in debt, for he has few expenses: 
an iirtist ! a dreamer ! You can never live on 
picturesque scenery, light and shade, or poetry 
aud sentiment. 

Maud. We apply sentiment to the higher feelings. 
John Carfi'idge is devoid of it you saJ^ 

('f)L. As a rat is of feathers. He deals in common 
sense. 



Maud. And Leonard Trellis in moral sense. 

Col. I am sick of morality. 

Maud. And yet morality is the rule which teaches 
us to live soberly and honestly. 

CoL. A poor man may live soberly; but he can't 
well be honest. 

Maud. An honest man is the noblest work of God. 

CoL. True; but doesn't Shakespeare say: "To be 
honest as this world goes, is to be one man 
picked out of ten thousand?" ** 

Maud. That would allow a hundred to every 
million. 

Col. But a million is a large city full. 

Maud. And a hundred is a goodly company. 

CoL. But, come, Maud, to speak seriously, you 
don't dislike John Cartridge'^ 

Maud. Not in our present relations. He does 
nothing to annoy me, is not offensive, and is 
seldom near me. 

CoL. When he comes to-day, try to be at least 
entertaining. 

Maud. Is he coming to-day ? 

CoL. Yes; and every day till you consent to marry 
him. 

Maud. That seems needless oppression. 

CoL. Maud, I am desperate: not (m my own ac- 
count; but your mother and the younger child- 
ren will suft'ei'. I ask in their name to save us 
if you can. 

[EXIT into house. Music] 

Maud, [c] What is a sacrifice ? They define it as 
an offering made to Grod by way of atonement, 
propitiation, or thanksgiving. What vvill mine 
be? I could sacrihce my life for my mother or 
the children; but to live a life of gilded misery 
— to suffer sickening, loathsome insult. Oh ! 
it's too horrible ! 

ENTER Mrs. Lyndhurst from house. Maud 
turns and sees her. They embrace. 

Ah! mother! just in time. So I must live with 
John Cartridge, take his name, swear at the 
altar — at God's altar — discard the man I do love, 
and always must love; submit to legalized dis- 
honor 

Mrs. L. [l. c] No more, my child — you break my 
heart. 



Maud, [c] Mother, do you consent to sell me, body 
and soul, to save the outward j)omp of this 
garish, gaudy, tinselled pageant, called society? 

M^R^. L. Maud, you know the efforts I have made to 
lead your father from his mad career of wild 
speculation. Even last year we could retire 
from this distracted, crazy contest with honor 
and decent comfort. But we have since dashed 
along with furious threatening speed, and I fear 
we are nearing the breakers. 

Maud. Can nothing be done to check, this furious 
speed ? 

Mrs. L. The mischief's already done. Your father 
is helplessly inactive ; but the accumulated 
motion; the avenging momentum; the Nemesis 
of wild extravagance and ambition must hurl 
us on to the hidden rocks. 

Maud. 1 thought my father's tastes were refined, 
quiet, and opposed to offensive extravagance. 

Mrs. L. So they are. An educated soldier like the 
Colonel instinctively avoids the vulgar osten- 
tation of brand-new wealth, untoned and mel- 
lowed by use and culture. His fortune, before 
, the inroad of extravagance and prosperity, kej)t 
us comfortably removed from anxiety, and 
universally respected. But the change came. 
Respectable dwellings looked shabby, in pres- 
ipnce of mansions, furnished like palaces; and 
everything was transformed as if touched by the 
wand of enchantment ! Wealth became a ne- 
cessity of life. A feverish thirst for the golden 
streams of Pactolus settled on our city like an 
epidemic. Your father was singularly indiffer- 
ent, until his favorite club caught the disease, 
and became argonauts eager to embark for the 
golden lleece. 

Maud. And so my poor father caught the distemper. 

Mrs. L. Yes, and badly, too. Oil wells, railways, 
mines, hotels ; steamboats, telegraphs, wheat 
and tobacco! Nothing discussed but companies, 
shares,, stock and dividends ! No books, but 
ledgers, plans and surveys ! The poetry of 
heaven and the beauty of earth neglected for 
the grovelling scramble for unsatisfying wealth! 
The very God of our childhood dethroned for 
the golden calf and the almighty dollar. 

Maud. Enough! My dear mother, tell me briefly — 



can I stay the progivss of the evil — can I avert 
it by a sacrifice 'i 

Mrs. Tj. Yes; by the compact of Fanst with Meph- 
istopheles. You can save us by selling your 
soul to the devil. 

Maud, [cover ing Iter face toith hartds.] Horrible I 
Oh, the misery of being born a woman ! No 
career for energy; no room for personal adven- 
ture. The few old grooves of activity, a teacher, 
shop-girl, invalid's comi^anion, or a miserable 
craven surrender to the wealthy, selfish biddei' 
for a — wife! Oh! mother, advise me, help me in 
this fearful trial! [falls in her arms. Music] 

Mrs. L. My darling girl, look into your own heart, 
and look up to heaven for guidance. To your 
own self be true — to your conscience and to 
your God. [kisses her.'] EXIT into house. 

ENTER PoMPEY with card and, returns. Maud 

takes card, wipes eyes, tries to enter house as 

Cartridge meets her on steps. [Choud.] 

Cart. Ah, my dear Miss Lyndliurst, this is a 
charming rencounter. Isn't that the woi-d '. 

Maud, [c] Precisely. 'Rencounter means a colli- 
sion, clash or shock. 

Cart. [l. c] Then I'm off the track. I meant to 
say that this unetiquetted meeting just fills the 
card — suits me to a tu^'n. I hate ceremony^ 
am ignorant even of its rules and requirements; 
but especially dislike it in presence of sucli a 
■charmer as Maud Lyndhuist. 

Maud. You know some of the rules of fiattery. 

Cart. Do I? I'm glad I know something; but 
look here, [opening jeiocl casc^ what do yon 
think of these sparklers, eli '>. I jnst stepped 
into Tiffany's, and said I to the head clei-k, 
"just trot out your best set of solitaire earrings, 
fit for an empress." Behold the result. If they 
please you, keep them; if they dcm't. just chuck 
'em in the ash-barrel: ifs of no consequence, 
especially as they tell me the dianiond is pure 
charcoal. 

Maud. Or rather pnre carbon in a crystallized form. 

Cart. Eh '. then I'm off the track again. I thought 
charcoal and carbon were identical. 

Maud Carbon is tlie pure combustible, liase of 
cliai'coal. 



9 

Cakt. Bless my sonl, Miss Lyndhurst, its a pleasure 
to hear you talk. I'm but charcoal, while you 
are a diamond of the first water. 

Ma CD. Charcoal is eminently useful. 

Cart. While the diamond is conspicuously orna- 
mental, [nslde} Good phrase. 

Maud, [looking Inbox] But I don' t see how I can 
take these from you. 

Cart. Why you have them already : just keep 
them; not another word; for you must know 
that I was badly damaged by the first lightning 
glance from your bright eyes. 

Maud. No, I was not aware of your accident. 
You should have carried a lightning-rod. 

Cart. It's too late now. I didn't squeal, but 
accepted it as a casualty. 

Maud. A casualty is an unwelcome accident. It 
generally calls for a coroner. 

Cart. Eli ! Off the track again. My accident was 
eminently welcome and fortunate, and will call 
— not for a coroner, but a coronet of pearls or 
strawberry leaves. 

Maud. Strawberry leaves belong to a duke's coro- 
net, a viscount has pearls only. 

Cart. Then I'll buy a dukedom, and make you a 
duchess. 

Maud. Buy one ? Where ? 

Cart. Why nearly anywhere on the continent of 
Europe. No end of "em in the market. 

Maud. Were you looking for dukedoms when 
last in Europe 'i 

Cart. Not particularly. Was open to any profit- 
able investment. Found lands, mines, and 
castles for sale — the purchaser taking the title. 

Maud. You certainly interest me. 

Cart. Say that again, Maud, and I'm bubbling 
over w.th happiness. Let the interest increase 
— let it be compound interest. 

Maud. But not usury, which is illegal interest. I 
meant to imply that the subject was interesting. 

Cart. Well, I'm a subject, under your dominion — 
a submissive slave; or am I only an object ? 

Maud. We notice an object, and reflect on a subject. 

Cart. Then notice this object, and reflect on the 
subject under discussion — the marriage. 

Maud. ' But the dukedom — you've forgot that. 

Cart. Not at all. While in Italy last summer, I 



1(1 

was interested in the rich valley of Aosta; its 
immense forest of x)ines, mines of copper, iron, 
lead and silver. 

Maud. I know Aosta, on the banks of the beautiful 
Dora. 

Cakt. Dora! True, there was a bit of a stream there. 

Maud. The houses were hidden in gardens. We 
stayed to sketch tlie old Gothic cathedral, tlie 
Roman Amphitheatre and triumphal arch. 

Cart. I think I noticed some old ruins; but its 
trade in cheese, leather and hemp could be 
doubled in a year. I was offered the whole 
concern, with, of course the title. 

Maud. Would they sell the cathedral? 

Cart. Fm blessed if I thought of that. Would it 
be of any use? They'd sell the rubbish — 1 
mean the ruins; but the cathedral would be 
sort of white elephant. 

Maud. There's a bishop, of course. 

Cart. I suppose so, if there's a cathedral; but I 
never gave him a thought. I was not dealing 
in bishops just then; but I could get you a few 
pretty reasonable. 

Maud. Do you seriously mnan you could be Dnke 
of Aosta ? 

Ca-rt. Most assuredly, or Duke of Modena, or 
Duke of Carara, with its tine ducal palace and 
marble quarries. You remember the elegant 
fountains in the streets of Carara. 

Maud. I think I do; but where's the marble ? 

Cart. At Monte Sagro, close by. I nearly bought 
the quarries. Wish I had now as you are in- 
terested. 

Maud. It's a troublesome journey to get there. 

Cart. To Carara? Not at all. My yacht landed me 
at L'Avenza, three or ft)ur miles from the citJ^ 

Matjd. You know more about Italy than I who 
spent a whole year there. 

Cart. No. I ran over the land wjth a view 
to business, and neglected the luins, lectures, 
statuary and that sort of thing; but if we could 
settle this little matrimonial arrangement, I 
would go over the ground again, and under 
your guidance would try to pick up some cul- 
ture, buy a wagon load of paintings, liric-a-brac 
and so forth, and strive earnestly for tlie leliue- 
ment that ought to accompany wealth. Come, 



11 

Miss Lyndhurst, name your price and close the 

bargain . 
Maud. \_staringathim."\ Yo a certainly amuse me, 

Mr. Cartridge. 
Cart. I do ? Then I score one. Every husband 

doesn't always amuse his wife. 
Maud. I was not thinking of a husband. 
Cart. But I was thinking, of a wife, [looks at watcJi] 

and my engagements to-day are numerous and 

pressing, \_aslde.'] I must try to close this 

business at once. Can I see your father ? 
Maud. Certainly. Will you walk in ? [shows Mm 

to steps.] EXIT Carteidge. 

[ Walks down meditating. Music very piano.] 

God help and direct me ! A fair unvarnished 
bid for — not my love, which is not marketable — 
but my hand — my body, and with its surrender 
my soul, through the perjured promise to love, 
honor and obey in holy wedlock ! Poverty I 
have never experienced ; but I do not fear it. 
Toil, drudgery, the hardest servile work, I 
would gladly accept if others could be saved 
from misery. 

ENTER Sisters of Mercy r. and, go into Convent. 

I have often pitied these' women; but I no 
longer think their lot a hard one. They are on 
tlie path of duty, while I am being dragged 
towards a path of deliberate sin. For marriage 
without love — yes, with love for another — is 
what % I dare not name it — will not think of 
it. What are those poor creatures who are 
rescued by these good sisters % Fallen women ! 
Why are they avoided like lepers % Because 
they sold their womanhood to man for gain, for 
a prici'. And I have just been asked to name 
7nu price ! Gracious heaven I Do the holy 
angels see fallen women only in the glimmer of 
the sidewalk gas lamps ? or do they ever discern 
them decked with the bridal ring, and moving in 
honor through the sanctified paths of wedlock'^ 
But come, straight is the line of duty. We can 
never please heaven by doing or consenting to 
a wrong. Away, then, with casuistry ! 

ENTER Trellis, [l. u. k.] He halts at sound of 
C a rt r [ \Miv" s no me. 



12 

I do not love John Cnitridge, and therefore will 
not marry him! [ht,rns and sees T'RJihi.is.] Ah, 
Leonard, doublj^ welcome! Oh, for the wings 
of the dove! 

Trel. Ask for the wisdom of the serpent. 

Maud. And its fangs 'i 

Trel. Yes, and its power to creep, glide, grasp, 
leap, dart and dive. Dove-cotes are at a dis- 
count; simplicity, innocence and mildness are 
cruely matched with subtlety, craft and artilice. 

Maud. Oh ! Leonard, must we take the weapons 
of the enemy ? 

Trel. No, but defensive armor to ward off danger. 
Even doves must learn wisdom. Who has been 
annoying you, darling '( 

Maud. Who woiild annoy me 'i 

Trel. That old dollar-monger has been here? 

Maud. Yes; but I don't mind him; he amuses me 
by his unmitigated assurance. But my poor 
father — 

Trel. The Colonel has had a hard time of it among 
these money -spinning spiders. His social posi 
tion addcsd respectability to their enterpinses. 
Colonel Lyndhurst's name sheltered many a 
scurvy director, and gave buoyancy to com- 
panies that without it would have sunk like 
lead. 

Maud. But his present embarrassment — 

Trel. Is the result of a craftily laid scheme to 
bring him into the power of John Cartridge, by 
playing on his ambition. 

Maud. How ? 

Trel. You would scarcely understand the compli 
cations of political mechanism. ' The wheels 
within wheels, the secret motive power, the 
silent mysterious directing hand, the hopes, 
fears and disappointments. 

Maud. But Cartridge is not in politics ? 

Trel. Not actually in office; but his. vast enter- 
prises are aided by Congress and local legisla- 
tion. He generates power by setting in motion 
his golden batteries, and directs this power to 
the advancement of his own interests. He 
could satisfy the Colonel's pet ambition. 

Maud. Ambition ? 

Trel. Yes ; retirement is irksome ; he longs for 
distinction, and has been advised to seek it. 



13 

Maud. But Cartridge offers to aid Mm at once. 

Trel. I know — conditionally. A ransom : tlie 
daughter will be exchanged for the father's 
lost fortune! A common bargain ! Cartridge is 
confident the Colonel must surrender, and you 
will be sacjihced. You'll have to marry him ! 

Maud. Leonard ! 

Trel. You will yield from sheer weariness and 
kindness of heart. You are cut out for an 
Iphigeneia ! She, you know, was sacrificed to 
raise the wind, when her father Agamemnon 
was becalmed at Aulis. 

Maud You forget; she was going to be slaughtered 
when the goddess Artemis carried her off. 

Trel. True, to the convent of Tauris, to minister 
at the altar. I should have likened you to 
Priam's daughter Polyxena. 

Maud. Don't change it. Polyxena' s life was really 
offered to the ghost of Achilles. 

Trel. He was her lover in life, and had some claim 
as a ghost. 

Maud. ButCartridge hasn't a ghost of a claim onme. 

Trel, About the same kind of claim as Achilles. 

Maud. How so ? 

Trel. Achilles offered Priam peace in exchange 
for his daughter, and Cartridge makes the same 
offer to the Colonel. 

Maud. They are not at war ? 

Trel. Not openly; but yonr father is as closely 
beleaguered as was poor Priam within the walls 
of Troy ! He is ensnared, entrapped — a prison- 
er — and you will be the ransom — the Polyxena ! 

Maud. No, "notPolynexa; I will follow Iphigeneia! 

Trel. Where to'^ 

Maud \j)ointing to convent ] To Tauris! 

Trel. The convent l [Music 

[She leads Jiim off L. u. e. ' as the Colonel and 
Cartridge ENTER from House.] 

Cart. [r. c.] Any one of those nominations I can 

easily procure. Tlie slate even now is not made 

up. But no time mnst be lost. 
Col. Shall I have to sink a large sum of money ''. 
Cart. No : you've spent too much already, and 

neglected more profitable business. 
Col. On the promise of the ministry to Paris I 

drifted into debt, by neglecting the stock I had 



14 

on hand; and. now come the assessments ! 
Cart. Don't trouble about those assessments, I'll 

attend to them; there will soon be a dividend ! 
Col. You're very kind. 
Cart. Not at all : and the mortgages and other 

little troubles will all be attended to. 
Col. When % 
Cart. As soon as Maud consents to our little 

arrangement. 
Col. There's just the snag that stops our course ! 
Cart. I've torn up a dozen snags in the Mississippi. 

Where's the obstacle ? Maud was pleased with 

the idea of being a duchess, and owning a castle. 

She'd fill the role to perfection. 
Col. She has a friend, or lover already. 
Cart. Eh— a lover? Who is he? What is he- 
poor or rich ? 
CoL. Poor enough in all conscience : an artist or 

amateur painter. 
Cart. Good, I breathe again ! Nothing to fear 

from poverty ! It's intrinsically weak and 

flabby ! 
Col. Were you weak when poor \ 
Cart. Yes, helplessly weak. But I never ran 

against the strong; but dodged, swerved, yielded 

the right of way — bent to the storm, and glided 

like an eel ! 
Col. Or a serpent % 
Cart. No; serpents are venomous ! There is not li- 

ing venomous in my nature; but every fibre is 

ambitious! \looks at loatch.} Where can I 

find this lover I 
CoL. He is often round here, [at steps. A, Pompey I 

ENTEK Pompey, from House. 
Pomp. Yes, sah. [salutes.'] 
Col. Seen Mr. Trellis to-day i 
Pomp. Yes, sah — most every day. I guess he's at 

it still, [giggles.] 
CoL. At what, you grinning aj)e ? 
Pomp, [serious] Nothing, sah. [aside] Only a 

sjjooneying with Miss Maud. 
CoL. Look for him, and ask him to give me a few 

minutes. 
Pomp. Gfive yer what, sah? 
Col. _ Give Mr. Trellis my compliments, and ask 

him to step this way. 



IS 

Pomp. Yes, sah. EXIT l.u. 

Cart. {lighting cigar] Smart lad is Pompey. 

Col. He' s either a rogue or a fool. 

Cart. Necessarily, if he belongs to the human 
family. 

Col. If to act unwisely is to be a fool, few of us can 
escape the sobriquet; but must wisdom be al- 
ways allied to roguery ? 

Cart. In some measure, yes. The battle of life 
requires stratagem ; craft and cunning imply 
knowledge and skill. 

Col. Crooked knowledge perhaps — allied to artifice 
and subtlety. 

Cart. Stratagem is honorable, and yet it is merely 
artifice in war. 

Col. But are we always at war? 

Cart. Morally we are opposed to our common 
enemy the devil, socially we deal with oj)po- 
nents, who are ever striving for victory. 

CoL. But commerce can be carried on honorably. 

Cart. So can war, and duelling and politics. Each 
has its code of honor, limiting the power of 
mischief, and regulating the amount of subtlety 
and artifice. What is a duel ? 

Col. An affair of honor. 

Cart. Exactly, and self-preservation is the engros- 
sing care while in front of your opponent. 

CoL. You talk like an old campaigner. 

Cart My life. Colonel, has been a steady fight for 
recognition. I had to remove hindrances, pull 
down obstructions, and overcome difficulties. 

CoL. And your success satisfies you ? 

Cart. No; I am still a suitor for the hand of your 
daughter. 

CoL. And you shall have her. 

Cart. But the obstacle^ 

Col. Is before you — to be surmounted. 

ENTER Trellis, l.u.e. 

(\)L. [r. introducing] I think you have met Mr. 

Trellis: he knows John Cartridge. 
Cart, [l.] I have heard of Mr. Trellis, and am 

happy to make his acquaintance, [shakes 

hands.] Will you join us. [presenting cigar 

case. ] 

EXIT Colonel, l. u. 
Trel. [c] Thanks; my time is not very valuable. 



16 

Cart. Time can be made valuable and profitable. 
Trel. Time itself is not marketable ; though work 

requiring time can be bought and sold, or turned 

to money. 
Cart. And your work, Mr. Trellis ? 
Trel. Would appear trilling to you I read, write 

and paint, run to and fro over the earth in quest 

of happiness. 
Cart. And do you lind it ? 
Trel. Why yes, in abundance. 
Cart. Then you are independent'^ 
Trel. Yes; if you mean free from the conti'ol or 

assistance of others. 
Cart. Then you are wealthy? 
Trel. I have health and wealth, but not riches. 
Cart. What do yon call wealth? 
Trel. Prosperity, happiness, and I think I may 

add, a good name. 
Cart. Which is better than riches, [smiling'] Rh ? 
Trel. So the proverb says; but I have no ex- 
perience of riches. 
Cart. But you surely don't love poverty ? 
Trel. On the contrary, I detest it as an evil; the 

great evil that afflicts the world. I woi'lv for 

money and independence. 
Cart. Does your jDainting pay ? 
Trel. Tolerably well, and my writing; but I was 

not trained to steady work: I am a novice in 

both, but am improving. 
Cart. Any relation to Judge Trellis, of Boston ? 
Trel. 'His son. 

Cart. You don't say? Why the Judge was rich. 
Trel. Yes; but made unfortunate investments, and 

left but a moderate competency to his widow 

and daughters. 
Cart. You ought to have been a lawyer. 
Trel. Probably; but I travelled and enjoyed life, 

having no urgent call for exertion — till my 

father died. 
Cart. I suppose you are familiar with the languages 

of Europe ? 
Trel. Yes. 

Cart. Will you go to Europe for me? I have in- 
terests in several places there. Would like a 

correspondent, or agent. Will you go ; 
Trel. When ? 
Cart. To-morrow, or as soon as possible. I'll make 



17 

it worth your while to serve me. 

Tbel. Your offer would have suited me last year; 
but important business detains me at present. 

Cart. I thought you had no business, or very little 
of it ? 

Trel. Not business in your sense of the term, but 
an important matter to me. 

Cart. But mine is more important and will pay 
better. 

Trel. I fancy not. 

Cart. What will yours bring? 

Trel. A treasure beyond silver or gold. 

Cart. You puzzle me. 

Trel. Not intentionally. I have simply found a 
treasure in Miss Lyndhurst, and am anxious to 
make her my wife. [Music] 

Cart. Mr. Trellis, you speak like a reasonable man, 
act like one. 

Trel. Mr. Cai'tridge, I am very anxious to act 
rationally. 

Cart. But you will never marry Miss Lyndhurst. 
Its damned presumptuous folly. 

Tr^l. I live in hope, have faith in honest endeavor, 
and charity enough to put a favorable construc- 
tion on your rude behavior. 

Cart. Confound your coolness. 

Trel. And confound your impudence! You pre- 
sume an your heaps of dollais to treat me as a 
tlunky. Why you sordid bill-shaver, were it 
. . not for the presence of our host, I would wring 
your impertinent nose. 

CaRI'. You would, would you? By the great 
eternal you'll repant this audacity. You'll go 
down before my power like a whipped cur, and 
be crushed under the weight of my influence ! 
Damn you ! 
ENTER, (/OLOnel and Mavd from house. 

Cart. Colonel, we must wind up this business. My 
time is precious. This young man has kindly 
intrusted me with a secret. He wants your 
daugliter. Can he have her — in mariiage — with 
board and lodging? 

CoL. [l.] Leonard Trellis, yonr education and op- 
portunities would warrant a more decent treat- 
ment of your fathers friend. Even as Maud's 
father I think I ought tt) have known your 
intention before a mere sti^anger. 



18 

Trel. [l.c] And so you would, Colonel. The 
vulgar abruptness of this pompous curmudgeon 
is intended to place me in a false position. It 
is true I love your daughter; and the know- 
ledge that my affection is recipi-ocated has urged 
me to labor for a home worthy of her. This 
fact was, a few moments ago, commimicated to 
this dollar-monger as a I'eason for refusing to 
leave the countrj^ on his behalf The coarse 
demand for your daughter, with the 'board 
and lodging." was one of his luminous strata- 
gems on which he relies when confronting an 
apponent. 

Cart. Colonel, you can't afford to allow me to be 
insulted by this poverty-stricken jackanapes, 
nor can you let him have your daughter. Miss 
Lyndhurst, this ornamental young hero has 
brought matters to a crisis. It is not my liabit 
to be angry or rash; but I must be brief, and 
possibly rough — perhaps rude. 

Trel. Miss Lyndhurst will excuse you. You can- 
not cover up your instincts, sir, under excite- 
ment. 

Cart. Speech-making is not in my line; but busi- 
ness is. You know I wish to marry you. I 
can give you a home such as few can boast of. 
I can endow you with the wealth and trappings 
of a princess. I will be as good apartner as the 
average husband, and I shall be proud of you. 

Maud, [c] I ought to feel honored by this offer; 
but it comes too late. I am pledged to another. 

Cart, [aside] First card trumped — will trj' another. 
It is an open secret, Miss Lyndhurst, that your 
father is on the verge of ruin. You can save 
him by consenting to an honorable marriage. 

Maud. First show that such a marriage can possibly 
be honorable. 

CoL. What is more honorable, my dear, moie mag- 
nanimous, than to ward off ruin and disgrace 
from your own flesh and blood? (/ome, Maud, 
think of your mother and young brotiiers. 
Throw away sentimental moonshine, and take a 
self-reliant, respectable husband. 

Cart, [to Trellis] If you had a spark of manliness 
in your exquisite carcass you would I'elease 
this girl from her romantic engagement. 

Trel. If you had a spark of delicacy, in your pom- 



19 

pons carcass, yen would drop your offensive 
offer, and cease your loathsome annoyance. 

Col. Do you liold my daughter to her engagement ? 

Trel. Decidedly not. Whatever she decides will 
be right, and Tinquestioned by me. 

Cart, [aside] I must try another card. Miss 
Lyndhiirst, the ruin that threatens your father 
has been thus far warded off by me, and me 
alone. I hold the mortgage on Oaklands and 
the Gramercy Park residence. I am also in 
possession of all, or nearly all your father's 
debts and obligations. I have them here in this 
portfolio. I have something more. Here is a 
written acknowledgement of having received 
thirty thousand dollars for three hundred 
shares of bank stock, to be delivered on Wed- 
nesday next, by your father to Aaron Atwood, 
of this city. The said thirty thousand dollars 
J our father has probably spent, and is without 
a single share for delivery. But I have pro- 
vided for the emergency, and this voucher will 
bring them from the safe of the Merchant's 
National Bank, [to Colonel] Am I speaking 
the truth ? 

Cart. Here is a chattel mortgage on every stick of 
furniture in this house, and h^re are other 
papers. 

CoL. John Cartridge, spare me ! 

Cart. These papers were not brought here for op- 
pression. I had hoped, and was pretty certain, 
of gaining your consent to a marriage, in which 
case tiiey were to be yours — the first of many a 
handsome present. 

Maud. Can I have them now ? Is it too late ? 

Cart. Not by any means; fake them — on one con- 
dition. 

Maud. Name it. 

Cart. Promise me that you will never marry 
Leonard Trellis, or consent to see him again. 

Maud, [^o Trellis] Will you release me? [Music. 

Trkl. As God is my judge, you are free. I will 
nevei' reproach you. Maud. 

Maud, [crossing to Cartridge, presents hand, 
which he kisses.] I, Maud l.yndhurst, do 
solemnly promise that I will never marry 
Leonard Trellis, or consent to see him again ! 
[nearly faints.] 



20 

Cart, {^presenting papem] Noble girl ! Take the 
papers. The lirst gift of your husband elect. 
\to Colonel] Here are legal transfers. I foresaw 
this surrender, and had them i^repared. A few 
final signatures, and the work is assured. 

Maud. \_aslde\ Take them away, father, and have 
them secured. Burn the obligations at once. 

Col. [a*/t?e fo Cartkidge] And the nomination i 

Cart. Fixed ! 

[EXIT Colonel in house. Cartridge following. 
Maud crosses to Trellis.] 

Cart, [on steps, looking back^ Its only natural to 
dismiss him kindly. [EXIT. 

Maud. Forgive me, Leonard, if I have done wrong. 

Trel. The blow has staggered me; but I don't com- 
plain. I will try to bear it. Poor Iphigeneia, 
and you will be slaughtered after all ! 

Maud. Was Iphigeneia slaiu ? 

Trel. No; she escaped to the solitudes of the 
Convent of Tauris; but you will marry him 
after all ! 

Maud. Did I promise? 

Trel. Not yet; but yon must novsr. 

Maud. You will see. [crosses to step's calls lAiKV., 

instructs him, he goes out Gate, r.] 

ENTER Mrs. Lyndhurst, Colont.l and Cart- 
ridge frorn. House. 

Col. [l.] Everything is clear, Maud; may heavt^n 
bless you for this sacrifice. 

Mrs. L. [l. c] Oh, Maud, God help and forgive 
you [embraces her.'\ 

Maud, [c] Fathei, how old am \\ 

Col. Your birthday was Tuesday; you are eighteen. 

Maud. Good. I am of age, and free to choose uiy 
own career, [crosses to Trkllis, h. Musii\] 
You will not reproach me % The strength of 
love is in its power of sacrifice. My next step 
will be directed by love, and love for you — and 
only you. 

Trel. \k^ssesher.^, God bless you ! 

Maud goes to her Mother and embraces. 



21 
ENTER Mother Superior and Nuns at gate, 
followed hy Michael. 

Maud, {approaching Mother Superior, c] I 
am Maud Lyndhurst. In presence of Father 
and mother and friends I offer myself as a 
novice to enter your convent. Mother, receive 
roe as a daughter, {embraces, turns] I will 
never marry Leonard Trellis, nor consent to see 
him again. General consternation. 



CURTAIN. 

Mike. 

Nun, M. Superior, Nun, 
Maud. 

Mrs. L. Colonel. 

Trellis. Cartridge. 

R- L. 



22 



ACT II. 

&CENE—Mi?ii7ig Camp near Silver Cliff, Colora- 
do. Selwyn' s Tefitn.n. Store Tent, r.I.e., witJihox 
at door for table, stumps and boxes for seats. 
Practical tree, l. it. 

Discovered Brackett, at back with field glasses 
looking at mountains. Dave, seated wMttUng a 
stick, R. Mormon Bill smoking, R. Dutchie 
on stump, l, smoking. 

Brack. I don't remember a scene of such singular 
beauty in all my travels. 

Dave. We miners are not experts in scenery; but 
those as is give the prize to this section Which 
M^ay did you travel'^ 

Brack. From Canyon City, over Smith's stage line. 

Dave. And von had a boss ride over that terrible 
hill. 

Brack. What mountains are these ? 

Dave. The Sangre de Christo, and they lift their 
jagged crests like a wall between the cliff yon- 
der and San Luis Valley ^pointing.] 

Bill. Silver Cliff is eight thousand feet above the 
sea level. So Joe savs. You've heard tell of 
him? 

Brack. Rather; I hear of nobody else in the camps. 

Dave. And I'll bet my bottom nugget you've hard 
nothing agin him. 

Bill. He ken peer into the vaults of these here 
mountains, and knows tlie combination of the 
everlasting safe. 

Dave. And he's just as good as he's smart, is Joe 
the painter. 

Bill. Or Joe the doctor, for he's a darn'd sight 
smarter than many a regelar bonesetter. 

Brack. But painting and mining don' t generally 
harness together. 

Dave. Not naterally. But Joe's a rum coon any- 
way. He don't seem to hanker arter gold; but 
just drops on the precious scent sorter promis- 
kus like. He keeps about a score of us holdin' 
claims by pre-emption, in the richest corners of 
this luckv Centennial State. 



23 

Beack. Indeed. How does he manage it ? 

Dave. Before we settled to steady business on the 
cliff yonder, we roamed considerable; and when 
the spot suited his calkerlation, he would just 
say to me: "Dave, stake out a hundred feet 
up this har gulch," and I stakes. The claim is 
put into shape, dokiment tested and filed in 
Recorder's office as Dave Selwyn's claim. 

Brack. And you work it ? 

Dave. I work at it a little. But Joe's soon round 
agin, and says he: "Dave, will you take a thou- 
sand dollars for your claim 1' ' ' 'Of course I 
will," says I. He hands over the dust, I 
scratch my name to the papers, and the gulch 
claim is Joe's and the dollars mine. 

ENTER Michael, l.u.e. 

Brack. And, of course, you give him back the 
money ^ 

Mich, \siniling, c] Is it Joe ye disoussin' ? and is 
it the money he takes back ? Not much, my 
boy. You remember last winter Joe was in 
Gilpin, when Ned Connelly's gang had the 
divil's own run of bad luck, and they hadn't a 
red cent to bless themselves with; and the stoi'es 
shut down on 'em, and Job's turkeys were 
thriving fat compared with the hungry gang of 
fasting and cursing miners. 

Bill. The fasting was true, Mike, but we didn't 
all curse. 

Mich. Thrue for ye, Bill. I forgot you were^one 
of them. Mormons don' t swear, except at their 
wives, {laughing.^ Bill had a face as long'as 
a crutch; and what with the fastin' and the 
dread of his wives following him from Ogden, 
he looked for all the world like a Kerry goat. 

Bill. But Joe fell among us like Aladdin's lamp. 

Mich. Like Aladdin himself, and turned on the tap 
of prosperity. -^5?^ 

Dave. Yes; hebrought 'em to the^Cliff yonder, and 
put 'em on to a silver lode five feet in width, 
which contained a vein [of solid argentiferous 
galena three feet wide. The ore from this 
lode yielded over a thousand dollars a ton. 

Brack. [_l.c.'] And they soon forgot their misery. 

Mich. Indeed then they did, and the fasting was 
changed to banqueting, and Ned Connolly's 



24 

gang was as merry as a homeward-bound crew 
of Skibbereen fishermen. 
Brack. And all these claims are under the control 

of this lucky Joe ? 
Mich. He owns seven-eighths of Silver Cliff yondei-. 
Brack. Then he owns quite a little city. 
Mich. You may say that; but it was a solitary cliff 
eighteen months ago, when Joe and I came 
af ther jack rabbits and antelope. 
Brack. He was not after the shiny metals ? 
Mich. The divil a bit he cared for rock-smashing. 
He was af ther bears and elk ; and was fiUiiV 
his canvas with mountain scenery worth a 
king's ransom. 
Brack. And you camped near the cliff ? 
Mich. Aftlier a long day's shootin'. At a glance 
Joe saw the cliff was nearly solid silver, and we 
soon had a couple of score boys holdin' claims 
and movin' like machinery at the crook of Joe's 
finger. 
Dave. And that little camp swelled like a circus, 
and now has graded streets, banks, daily papers, 
lire and police departments, with churches, 
schools, and — 
Mich. Twenty-five liquor stores ! 
Brack, [sniilmr/] A sure sign of prosperity. And 

all in two short years. 
Mich. Less than that. And this new camp is goin' 

to be another (iity in three months. 
Brack. I should never have jiitched upon this spot 

for gold or silver. 
Dave. No; it aint the sort of diggin's to entice me; 
but Joe can see right down into the crevices of 
the rocks. 
Brack. .Vnd he never seems to fail in his guesses '. 
Mich. There's no guess work with Joe. He studied 
in Germany the hang of gold and silver, and the 
formation of rocks. Do you know that these 
mountains were all volcanic — chucked right up 
before the plains were deposited. Would you 
believe that now '. 
Brack. How do you know i' 

Mich. Joe says so, and he knows. All these rocks 
were once as soft as buther — you'd have sunk 
knee deep in it. 
Brack. When ;; 
Mich. Three hundred and twenty-seven millions, 



25 

nine hundred and sixty-four thousand, five 
hundred and seventy-three centuries before 
Noah's ark was sthranded on the Emerald Isle. 

Date. Yes, that's about it, Mike. The main lodes 
were spewed up from away down in the depths, 
and the seams can be followed by those as knows 
the natur of metals and the knack of depositing 
themselves. [Braokett, goes up. 

Mich. What does yer think of our new prosj)ector, 
boys 1 

Blll. Keep shady, Mike. Dave and me's been a 
drawin' him out. He's playin' possum. He 
takes ras for greenhorns; but I guess he's an 
old stager in these parts. 

Dave. Yes; if his store clothes were changed for 
diggers' togs, and his hair a trifle darker he'd 
pass for Ned Johnson, the road agent. 

Dutch, [^aside] Ned Johnson ! [ Walks up and 
eyes Brackett. All rise.] 

Mich, [l.c] Who the divil is he * 

Dave, [c] A smart coon that figured prominently 
in the early days of Colorado. 

Mich.. You're an ould hand in this region, Dave ? 

Dave. You bet. One of the forty-niners who 
crossed the plains as a bull-whacker, with 
"Pike's Peak or Bust" for our motto. Saw 
Denver unfledged, and slept in tlie same cabin 
with Horace Greeley. 

Bill, [r.c] Yer all expected the Union Pacific to 
strike yer new city '. 

Dave. Yes; that was in '67; and if the railway 
cusses had made for Denver, Leadville would 
have bust its shell long ago. 

Bill. Wasn' t the Kansas Pacific working that way? 

Dave. Yes; and would have reached us; but impa- 
tience and cute trickery built the Denver 
Pacific to join Cheyenne. 

Mich. There must liave been smart manoeuvring 
with them railway bosses. 

Dave. Yer right, Mike. The feeder we built to 
Cheyenne was gobbled bj- the Trunk, and the 
Trunk bagged by Cartridge. It was sharp 
work, for the Kansas Pacific steamed into Den- 
ver a month after. 

Mich. And who controls the Kansas Pacific? 

Dave. Why Cartridge, of course, and the Kio 
Grand, Arkansas, and Santa Fe. 



26. 

Bill. Them were break-neck speciilatin' times. 

Dave. You bet, when General Palmer, of the Nar- 
row Giiage line, built a fort and garrisoned it 
to stop General Strong's gang as they came 
grading u]) Grand Canyon. 

Mich. Oh, look at that now ! Built a fort ? 

Dave. Yes ; and gained the day. A number of 
men were killed. Fifteen hundred men were 
under arms,- and a half a million spent in j)rose- 
cutions. But the joke comes in here. Behind 
GeneralPalmerwas John Cartridge, and Strong 
and Major Tom Anderson were outwitted. 

Bill. I'm a thinkin', Dave, that our new arrival 
knows a darn' sight more about them 'ere times 
than any of us. 

Dave. As much as Dick Larkins, the perjurer and 
bond stealer, the tool of Cartridge, the forger 
of — 

Mich. Aisy, boys, he's comin' back. 

Bill. Don't forget that Larkins and the road agent 
Ned Johnson are twins. Music. 

ENTER Minnie. /row. tent, runs up stage, looking 
offjj. Dave and Bill go tq} as Bukckyji:'! comes 

down. Miners enter and, group at back. 
Brack, [to Mike] You've a strange company here. 
Mich, [c] About the average rnn of a mixed-up 

mining gang. A little of all sorts, good bad and 

indiiferent. 
Brack, [l.] Who's the serious fellow? 
Mich. Mormon Bill, the polygammist, with the 

Lord knows how many wives, and no end of 

childer, like Mulroony's j)ig. 
Brack. Has he got them all here '. 
Mich. No, glory be to God, they're in Ogden, he 

says, and raise blazes like our Kilkenny cats. 
[Music. Miners loaving hats. ^, 
Brack. What's the commotion i 
Mich. May be they can see the stage. It's due 

about this time. 
Brack. {exclted'\ The express — who drives it \ 
Dutch. \at Ms side l.] Not Sam Nelson, who vos 

shot in Gregory Gulch. 
Brack, [starts] Sam Nelson ! 
Dutch, [eyeing him] Ah ! you vas known Sam 

Nelson? [Pause.} Charley Blake, drives when 

Joe's not around. 



-27 

Brack. Joe 'I 

Mich. Sure. Joe's a crack whip, and what's more, 
a crack shot. 

Dutch. Even ]S^ed Johnson would give him a wide 
berth. 

Brack, [eyes Dutohie suspiciously'] You're talk- 
ing of auld lang syne, mein friend. You were 
eating sauer kraut in Faderland when Ned was 
flourishing. 

Dutch. Veil I speaks only vot I vos tolt me. 

Brack. You've a young woman in camp. 

Mich. Yes; Dave's daughter. His wife died when 
the child was a little gossoon. God bless her. 
She went to school ia New York, and can sing 
and dance like a fairy. [Dutchie goes up. 

Brack. But this is no lalace for a girl. 

Mich. Why not ? There isn' t a boy in camj) that 
doesn't worship her, and would hang the first 
blackguard who'd dare to insult her? 

Brack. But miners are not over moral. 

Mich. No; they don't pretend to be saints; but 
there's a sort of square dealin' among ns as 
hates treachery, and doats on innocence and 
goodness, though we haven't much ourselves! 
[Music. Horn Jieard.] Hurrah? the stage! 
[runs up. Clieers from the men.] 

Brack, [loolcing through glass.] Blake on the box; 
but Trellis handles the ribbons. The fellow 
with the horn looks like Sam Nelson's Injun. 
I must be cautious, though I'm pretty safe in 
the role of a prospector, [sees Dutchie watch- 
ing Jdvi.] That Dutchman again ! [Goes tip l] 

.ENTER Trellis, l.u.e. 

All. Hurrah ! welcome, Joe ! 

Trel. How do, Dave \ Hello, Bill ! Glad to_ see 
you, Mike. [shakes hands.] Here, Mike, 
here's a letter from Clonakilty. 

Mich, [l.] Oh, look at that now ! More power to 
ye, Joe! My mother, God bless her! [sings] 
bch ! Clonakilty is a place you might bless. 
Where whiskey costs nothin' and buthermilk 
less, [sits on stump r.] 

Trel. [c] And now my little chick-a-biddy rose- 
bud, guess what I' ve got for you % 

[Brackett and, miners in grou;p at bacJc.\ 



28 

MiN. [l.c] Quick, tell me, sliow me, don't tease: 

there's a good Joe. 
Trel. What would you like ? 
MiN. Oh. I don't know; lots of things. Father's 

picture, if you've finished it. 
Trel. Slnit your eyes and open (no, not your 

mouth) but your hands. * 
MiN. {s?te does so] There, quick ! 
Trel. There, Minnie now look. 
MiN^. Oh, you darling duck of a Joe ! Why, father, 

its you to the very life. Why it almost speaks. 

[kisses a.] How can I thank j'ou, Joe? 
Trel. Why you must pay me, of course. 
MiN. [looking in 'purse] Oh, Joe, I've only fifty, 

sixty, seventy-five cents in the world ! 
Trel. Well, I won't draw on your savings, I'll 

take a kiss. 
MiN. You will? Wait a moment, I've been eating 

strawberries, [wipes mouth, shuts eyes'] There 

take one; only one mind. 
Mich, [steals kiss and runs q/f l.u.e.] 
Must. No you don't, you've had one. 
Trel. Honor bright, Minnie, I didn' t get a taste. 
MijST. Then somebody stole a kiss. 
Trel. That's not my fault. Shut one eye and pay 

me fairly. 
MiN. Look alive then. 
Trel. [kisses] One — 
Miisr. No more. I only promised one. Don't be 

greedy, Joe ! 
Trel. All right then. I'm glad you like the picture. 

EXIT Minnie and^ Dave in tent. Music. Miners 
laughing. 

ENTER Bill and Michael l.u.e. Loud laugh. 

Bill, [r.] For the Lord sake, boys, don't give me 

away. My life at Ogden was beyond human 

endurance. 
Mich, [r.] How many were there — all counted ? 
Bill. Only seven ; and though they worked, and 

could easily keep me,' their tongues were wus 

than rattlesnakes. 
Trel. [l.] What's the matter, BilU 
Mich. Didn't ye see the lady on the stage with you? 

one of Bill's affinities, and the toughest of the 

lot — tracked him from Ogden. 



29 

ENTER Bill's Wife, l.u.e. Chord. 

Bill. Oh, Lord ! It's she — the wustest ! 

Wife, [c] Viper! Fiend of treachery and broken 
vows, I follow in your track, and I am here ! 

Bill. I see yer are — wus luck ! 

Wife. Wus luck, eh? Did yer call it/'wus luck" 
when under the shadow of the hemlock yer 
found yer affinity, and sealed me with the seal 
of the elect for time and eternity ? 

Bill. It seems an eternity since that hemlock night. 
Is any more of yer come on 1 

Wife. None; the other six are off the scent. You'ie 
safe in my arms. Where" s yer tent ? 

Bill. I aint got none — I'm a wanderer ! 

Wife. No tent. Now, William, you're deceivin' 
me; but it won't do. You sent yer young uus 
kaliker gowns; but yer faithful head of yer 
future kingdom may go to grass. 

Bill. What did yer come for '^ 

Wife. To find out Avhat yer were doin', and if yer 
turn me off I'll send for the other six. 

Bill. Oh, Lord ! I'd sooner live with a pack of 
cayotes. 

Wife. Then come along, my beloved William, and 
attend -to my baggage. [Music. EXEUNT. 

Micii. {laughing^ I tell yer what it is, Joe, that 
affinity will keep Bill in order. 

Tkel. How would vou like seven of them, Mike ? 

Mich. Glory be to God and St. Patrick to the fore, 
its too awful to think of. [Miners go up. 

Trel. Why, Brackett, who the stars and stripes 
would dream of meeting you here ? 

Brack, [l.] Its the funniest twist of a wild goose 
chase ever imagined. I've just come into camp. 

Trel. [c] Just arrived ? You got my letters ? 

Brack. Yes; but they gave no clue to your future 
movements. I had news that demanded a per- 
sonal interview, and came right on, not dream- 
ing of any difficulty in finding you. 

Trel. And yet I am well known here. 

Brack. No doubt of that; but Leonard Trellis was 
only known at the ]30st office, and the camps 
were all alive with praises of Joe, the painter. 
I was thrown off the scent at every turn. 

Trel. Well, you are here at last. W hat' s the news ? 

Brack. Everything has gone wrong. The Colonel 
is still holding on to the tape of his broker's 



30 

ticker, and waiting for a smile from tickle for- 
tune, or hanging- on to the skirts of Cartridge 
in hopes of a nomination. 

Trel. And Miss Lyndhurst 'i 

Brack. Will close her novitiate on the eighth of 
June. 

Trel. And this is the Middle of May. 

Brack. She is completely reconciled to her fate, or 
choice, and believes you are to be maiTied. 

Trel. Married ? To whom ? 

Brack. To a Miss Minnie Selwyn, daughter of a 
miner. 

Trel. Brackett, you are inventing this. 

Brack. As heaven is above us I speak the truth. 

Trel. Excuse me. EXIT in tent. Mik-e followini/: 

[Brackett stands smiling. Miners co7ne down.] 

Ike. [l.] Could you settle that business now, we're 

all here. 
Brack, [looking roiind] Perhajis we could. Just 

sit down and pretend to be playing cards. 

[Miners sit.] What have you got, Dutchie. 
Dutch. I vos the owner of one tonnel claim, and I 

am entitled to zwei hundert feet on bote sides 

of shaft. 
Brack. Who is driving this tunnel with you ? 
Dutch. I have seven men mit me; but I locate the 

claim, and it is recordit in my name. 
Brack. What name? [RE-EtSTTER Mike. 

Dutch. My name, Frederick Kautfman. Dat is me 

ven I vos born and paptized. I am only Dntchie 

mit the boys. 
Brack. Good. Mike, what have you got ? 
Mich. Is it my claim ye'rafther? I have a good 

quartz-mill claim, properly described and tiled 

with the Recorder as the property of Michael 

Quinn. 
Brack. Your name's Quinn, is it, Mike ? - 
Mich. My mother and father's name was Quinn 

before I was born, and the Quinns are of dacent 

stock in the ould country. 
Brack. That's so, Mike, the Earl of Dunraven is a 

Quinn. 
Mich. Thrue for ye, and the Quinns are all related 

and discinded from Con-of-the-hundred-tights, 

the ouldest monarch of Ireland. 
Brack. Have you a mill on the claim ? 



31 

Mich. I have not; but I intend to place one. I am 
cuttin' a ditch from the stream yonder to bring 
wather to the mill. 

Brack. For whom are you working, Mike ? 

Mich. For Joe, of coorse; bnt I am the raal owner 
of the claim. It's a bonanza entirely ! I don't 
think I'll sell! 

Brack. Why not ? 

Mich. Because Joe says there's millions in it. 

Brack. Did you tell him who wanted it ? 

Mich. Oh, look at that now ! What do ye take me 
for? Do ye think I'd give aAvay my business ? 
I told him I was goin' to i^ut it in the hands of 
my broker in New Yoi'k. 

Brack. That's good. 

Mich. I offered it to him for ten thousand dollars, 
but he said he couldn't biiy at present, and I 
am at liberty to sell. So if ye want to be a rich 
man now's your chance. 

Brack. That's a large amount. 

Mich. Thrue for ye; but it's a rich mine and Joe 
knows it. 

Brack. All right. And now, boys, listen. I want 
you all to think over my proposal. I have to 
see five or six other men over the creek, and 
when I get through with them will be ready to 
pay over five times the amount you will get 
from Joe I shall be at Ned Skinner's. The 
papers are ready, witnesses at hand, and the 
cash will be in your pockets before your signa- 
tures are dry on the paper. ]EXIT L. 

Mich. I tell ye what it is, boys, that fellow is a 
smart lad entirely; but how can we come to 
terms and be. honest ? [Miners rising. 

Ike. [r.] The claims are ours, and we can do as we 
like with them. He offers to buy every claim 
in the camp, and he's got the cash. 

Mich, [l.c] Will all the other boys sell < 

Ike. Every mother's son. Joe mustn't own another 
Silver Cliff — he's as rich as Fair, Flood or 
Mackey already. 

Dutch, [l.] Suppose ve see vat Joe vill go to do 
before ve ti'eat mit this fellow. 

ENTER Dave and Minnie from tent. 

Here's Dave and Minnie. 
Mich. Dave, will ye sell ye claim ? 



82 

Dave, [l.c] Pve r.o claim to sell, except to Joe. 

Dutch. Don't you vas own the claims yonder? 

Dave. Yes, legally, but not squarly. I took tlieni 
as you all did, without an ounce of trouble, and 
hold them hj sinijple right of signature to papers 
made out by Joe. We will eacli get a thousand 
dollars for loafing just to keep up the legal 
form. Every man of us got rich on the Cliff by 
Joe's knowledge and squar dealin', and now 
you're all a plottin' and playin' into the hands 
of a treacherous spy who ought to be lynched 
in camp. Why hell and — 

Miisr. [c. places hand over his mouth.'] You dare, 
you naughty dad. 

Dave. I'm mad, Minnie, let me have a small sware. 

MijST. Not a scrap. You may say poker and tongs. 

Dave. Well, then, poker and tongs, shovel and 
crusher, boys, don't let us be dam — 

MiN. [bus.] Ah, you bad jjop. 

Dave. Mayn't I say "damn," Minnie? 

MiN. If you dare. 

Dave. Then I'm damned if I can speak at all. 

Miisr. Hanged, banged — 

Dave. You may be hanged, banged or trammed to 
h— 

MiN". [bus.], Ounces, pennyweights and grains, and 
pulverized, and stamjied to shai^eless m.atte, 
and Jammed into the hottest reverbatory furnace 

Dave. Before Dave Selwyn — 

MiN. Or his daughter Minnie— 

Dave. Will consent to stoop to da — 

MiN. Desulphurized and amalgamated treachery. 

Dave. Bravo, Minnie, well said, [kisses her.] 

MiN. I'll swear for you, jjop, and you talk to them. 

Mich. Sure he'll be a lucky boy who gets you for a 
wife. 

MiN. Go away, Mike, I'm ashamed of you. 

Mich, [aside.] Whist, darlin', I'm puttin up a job 
on 'im. 

MiN. You bad, Mike, who gave the twenty pounds 
to send home to a poor mother in Clonakilty, 
when the potatoes failed, and the rent had to 
be paid ? 

Mich. God bless ye, Minnie, for remoindin' me of 
that, [aside.] But Joe doesn't want me claim. 
If he did I'd be eternally — Boycotted before I'd 
go back on Joe. 



32 

MiN. [seizing Ike ^oho is sneaking off r] Come 
here, Ike, I'm ashamed of you. You were al- 
most starving last winter over in Clear Creek, 
when .Toe clothed and fed you and your shiver- 
ing gang, and ladled out riches to your partners 
from claims on Silver Cliff. 

Ike. That's true lass, every word of it. I don't 
think I'll sell. 

MiN. There's Father Manna just come in from 
Canon city, ask him what you ought to do. 

Mich. There's not a miner in camp as would run 
against the advice of Father Manna. Come, 
boys, and we'll give him a caed mille faltha. 

[Music. EXEUNT Miners l.u.e. 

MiN. [c] There's a traitor in camp, father. 

Dave, [r.] Keej) quiet, Minnie. Here comes Joe. 

ENTER TRiShhis, fr 0771 tent wit/i easel, etc. 

Did you have a squar meal, old man ? 

Trel. [c. arranging easel] I should rather think I 
did. A strong pot of coffee, a couple of prairie 
chickens, and a plate of fruit, is a meal fit for a 
king. You can beat Delmonico, Minnie, in get- 
ting n-p a banquet. 

Mm. [R.j Can I? I am so glad. Did you like the 
strawberries? [5/^5 r.] 

Trel. Delicious, and the cream. Where did they 
come from? ['EXIT Day:e in tent. 

MiN. ^Strawberries bloom at an altitude of two miles 
in this county. That's information, so mind 
remember it. Raspberries ditto, same elevation; 
and would ypu believe it, Joe — 

Trel. I would, Minnie, if you told me. 

MiN. I am telling you— that I, my very self, gather- 
ed in these mountains ripe strawberries with 
one hand and snow with the other. 

Trel. At different seasons. 

MiN. No*; the same day — at the same time. They 
■ flourish at a temperature that would kill them 
in other parts of the country. 

Trel. How do you account for it, Minnie ? 

MiN. Wliy that's easy — they become acclimated. 

Trel. [smili7ig] What's that? 

MiN. Don't laugh, you naughty Joe. You know 
what I mean^ — ac-cli-ma-ted, or habituated to 
their mountain temperature. Are you taking 
me, Joe? ' 



33 

Trel. That's what I'm trying to do. 

MiN. [jumping up] Oh, wait then till I settle my- 
self nicely [sits holt lupright.] 

Trel. There, you've just gone and spoilt it all by 
your consciousness. Why didn't you go on 
talking naturally and unaffectedly ? 

MiN. Please, Joe, don't scold, and I won' the affect- 
ed. I'll sit just as you want me [sits.] 

Trel. That's better. Now talk all you want. 

MiN. I can't think of anything. Ask me some- 
thing, Joe. 

Trel. Have you ever picked a flower in the snow ? 

MiN. Oh, that's it, I wanted to tell you. You must 
paint a morning scene, when the light of the 
rising sun falls on the snow-covered mountain 
tops — miles and miles across the country. It's 
too lovely for anything, Joe. It makes me 
almost faint — 

Trel. Nonsense. 

MiN. Honor bright, Joe. When I look at a sunset 
view, or a moonlight picture over these moun- 
tains, with the villages cuddled up so snugly in 
their jDretty nooks, ten thousand feet above the 
sea level, why lam just like the Queen of Sheba 
when she saw the glory of Solomon. I wish I 
could paint. 

Trel. You shall learn some day, Minnie. I've been 
so busy lately selling mines, drawing out papers 
and grubbing among the dollars, that every 
moment has been occupied. 

MiN. Do you like money, Joe ? 

Trel. I was driven into the business of heaping up 
money. I had an enemy who struck me down 
with his weight of gold, and pinioned me with 
his power of money My only chance of life, 
or what I valued as life, was to secure the same 
power and fight with equal weapons. 

[Music ENTER Father Manna, l.u.e.] 

So I rushed desperately into the scramble, and 
toiled and planned, and gave every fibre to the 
task of accumulating the means of influence and 
power. 
F. M. [l.] And hai:)piness ? 

Trel. [r/s^/i.i^] No, not happiness. [Minnie ?-ismp' 

F. M. Ah, Minnie, don't move, let me see your 

picture. Joe will do you justice, [crosses r. 



34 

and pats Tier head'] I hear an excellent account 
of you, cliild. The camp is improved by your 
very presence. 

MiN. I could do more but for the cursed drink. 
The miners are good fellows when sober. 

F. M. Yes; if kept to their work. But their only 
recreation is drink, dice and cards, poor fellows. 

Teel. That will do for the present, Minnie [laying 
aside his 'brush.'] 

MiN. I'll go and get Father Manna some lunch. 

F. M. Thank you, Minnie: a cup of your coffee will 
be welcome. [EXIT Minnie in tent. 

Who's the capitalist in camp? His inliuence 
is not good. Do ryou know him ? 

Trel. [l.] If you mean Brackett, yes. What is he 
up to ? 

F. M. No good, I'm afraid. I found his trail all 
round these regions. 

Trel. Lately? 

F. M. Yes; he's now at Skinner's with the whole 
gang of miners making them drunk, and worm- 
ing out mining secrets, and acting as a spy or 
emissary of some millionaire. 

Trel. I am sorry to say he is in my employ. 

F. M. Have you known him long ? 

Trel. About six months. I wanted news from 
New York and he seemed capable and shrewd. 

F. M. He avoids me, and has a suspicious manner. 

Trel. He brings important news from New York. 
Maud takes the veil next month. 

R M. Indeed. 

Trel. All my work, every effort resulting in disap- 
pointment. 

F. M. [sits R.] Much of our woi-k seems to answer 
no valuable purpose; but if undertaken in a 
right sjiirit it must result in profit. 

Trel. Mine is an exce]ption. What care I for all 
the dollars I've heaj)ed together? for the know- 
ledge I've gained in these quai'tz-packed hills? 
The chase for the golden fleece has always 
proved disastrous. The yellow metal crushes 
out all frugality and simplicity of manners. 

F. M. Necessarily, for frugality is founded on the 
jirinciple that all riches have limits. Don't 
despond, Joe, you've done good with your 
knowledge thus far. 

Trel. But the game is up now. I can cope with 



35 

traitors like Brackett, fight Cartridge with his 
own powerful weapons, peer into the earth like 
a gnome; but, here, where hangs the one hope 
of victory, I am utterly j)inioned and check- 
mated. 

F. M. Not yet. Prom the day you intrusted me 
with your life-secret, I have tried to aid you. 

Trel. I am glad to hear it; but how? 

P. M. The Catholic church in the United States is 
so organized that information is easily obtained 
by any of her clergy. The States are divided 
into provinces, and sub-divided into dioceses. 
Each diocese has its churches and religious in- 
stitutions. 

Trel. Quite medieval, except the mitred abbots. 

P. M. We have a half dozen mitred abbots. 

Trel. Indeed ! 

F. M. I merely mention this fact to show how easily 
I found the Confessor of the Institute in which 
Miss Lyndhurst is now residing. He happens 
to be my college chum — Father Bailey — and is 
ordered to Colorado for his health. 

Trel. He could not come to a healthier climate. 

F. M. No; It renewed my lease of life when nearly 
prostrate five years ago from New York parish 
work. It brought new life and vigor, and a 
wonderful experience of the freaks of fortune 
and the scramble for wealth. 

Trel. Yes, mining acts as a leech on all legitimate 
business. Even in California a million a month 
is drawn from the pockets of small stock-holders. 

P. M. Where does it go ? 

Trel. To the credit of the bonanza millionaires. 
Look at the Comstock. Fifty mines have levied 
nearly sixty millions in assessments. 

P. M. How many have paid dividends ? 

Trel. Fourteen ; and only six of these have paid 
their stockholders more than they have taken 
from them. 

P. M. Who are the great gobblers ? 

Trel. The three or four bonanza magicians, like 
John Cartridge.' 

F. M. And the outside investors — 

Trel. Always come in as the dividends cease and 
aid with their assessments. There are frauds in 
mining that would cause a faro dealer ta blush. 
Your John Cartridges grind their victims, who 



36 

wait for a turn in the tide tliat never comes. 

F. M. Your work has been honest; you have bene- 
fitted your friends, and rolled up a fortune. 
You may now rest. 

Trel. Rest ? There's no rest for me witli Maud in 
the convent. 

F. M. I can aid you there. [Trellis seizes Ms 
Jiand.~\ If Miss Lyndhurst entered the convent 
impulsively, and urged only by a dread of ruin 
falling on her family, and still engaged to be 
married, and actually loving the man whom she 
promised to marry — the case certainly demands 
inquiry; and my appointment to New York — 

Trel. Is there a possible chance of such an appoint- 
ment? 

F. M. I am in daily expectation of a letter from the 
Vicar General of the diocese of New York 
authorizing the exchange with Father Bailey. 
To-morrow I go to Denver to see the Bishop. 

Trel. The Bishop ? Is there a Catholic Bishoj) in 
the wilds of Colorado ? 

F. M. 'Yes; and in Babylon of the Chaldees, and 
around Mount Ararat. The sun never sets on 
■ the Catholic Cliurch throughout the world ! 

Trel. And you really expect to go East ? 

F. M. Immediately. 

ENTER MmNiE. 

MiN. Come, Father Manna, your lunch is ready. 
F. M. Thanks, Minnie, I will try and do justice to 
your housekeeping. EXEUNT. 

Music. ENTER Bill a?i(i Wife, l.u.e. scolding. 

Bill, [r.] For the Lord's sake, Betsy, give us a 
rest. 

Wife, [c] Rest, eh ? What else on the Creator's 
airth do you do but rest and loaf, yer lazy var- 
mint of wickedness and sin ? Where's the fruit 
of yer delving in the bowels of the airth for the 
moth-consoomiiig treasure ? 

Bill. Avaunt ! Pharisee and sarpint's tooth ! Silver 
and gold I have none. We're all out er work. 
Don't yer see the camp's froze out. 

Wife. But Skinner's saloon ain't fruz, and the 
'baccer and rum is thawed, and yer a misleadin' 
a poor forlorn crittur as wants raiment, and 
proper fixin's to set off the nateral charms, of 



37 

her frail sex [crying. ] 

Bill. Oil, Lord ! Betsy, don' t bring a crowd round 
us. Dry up, old gal, I ain't got notliin' but 
tick at Skinner's, and he don't sell a darn'd bit 
er kaliker or shemale finery. 

Wife. William, yer once would scorn to breathe a 
wicked lie, yer would. Yer knows yer owns a 
mine. Yer a caiDertalist, and yer a keepin' yer 
rusty treasure for yer young wives. 

Bill. It's a darn'd conflagratin' prevaricashun — 

Wife. \coaxinglip\ Ah ! William, rekermember the 
stars and the hemlock, and the gorgeous night 
of our sealin', and take yer own Betsy to Silver 
Cliff, and array yer afiinity as the lilies of 
the walley what never toils or spins ! 

Bill. There ain't no stores for lilies or women's 
toggery. They all toils and spins their own 
garmints. 

Wife. I'm a blushin', William, at yer fall from 
gr^ce ! 

Bill. Betsy, de yer want a feller to swearathun- 
derin' big oath, and perjure his everlastin' sal- 
vation \ 

Wife. No, William, only to buy a few dresses, a 
shawl and Spring bonnet, or a Gainsboro' hat, 
and take a home on the Cliff, and let us live 
happy ever arter, far away from them six she 
tigers in Ogden, who hanker arter your love and 
'fections. 

Bill. If I wus pulverized and roasted, and smelted 
I wouldn't yield an ounce of silver. 

Wife. The mine, William, the mine ! 

Bill. Ain't mine. 

Wife. Ain' t a mine ? 

Bill, [savagely] Ain't a mine of mine — ain't be- 
longin' to me. 

Wife. The gentleman offers five thousand dollars 
for it. [arms round neck] Come, my own 
sweet William, my buzzim's treasure, my fust 
and only love, [drawing him away] Take the 
money for yer lawful property and make yer* 
affinity bloom as the rose of Sharon's walley. 

Bill. Oh, dear, I suppose 1 must cave in. No 
wonder poor old Adam got limp and threw up 
the sponge after a dozen tongue rounds witli his 
first affinity. 

Wife. Don't be- unreverenshal, William, respect 



38 

yer Scripturs and honor yer affinity. 
Bill. The spirit is willin'; but the tiesh is a darn 
sight too weak for this encoiinter. 

ENTER Trellis and Dav^e from tent, as Bill and 

Wife go up. Miners and Backett come in 

L.u.E. and laugh as she takes him off. 

Trel. [c] By-the-bYe_, Dave, I think we must wind 
up our mining business before it gets too compli- 
cated. Are you going to work your claim, or 
will you sell % 

Dave, [r.] It would take considerable capital to 
make it a paying concern. I would like to hand 
it over to the party as found it. 

Trel. What do you ask for it ? 

Dave. Is it worth a thousand dollars % 

Trel. Perhaps more if you could hold and work it. 

Daa'e. I've held a good many for you, Joe, and you 
always acted squarly. I never spent a cent of 
brain or hand work on it The thousand dol- 
lars will pay me well, or a half that sum. 

Trel. All right, Dave, just sign these papers and 
Brackett will witness the purchase. [Dave 
■goes to table with Brackett.] Can I do the 
same with you, Ike ? 

Ike. [drunlc, l.] I don't know as how you can, Joe. 
I'm thinking of working the claim myself. 

Trel. Indeed; have you got the capital % 

Ike. Well, if I don't work it I'll sell it. 

Trel. To whom ? 

Ike. That's my business. It's my own claim, arn't 
it? 

Trel. Certainly; but I thought I had the refusal 
of it? 

Ike. So you have. Will you give five thousand 
dol]a"rs for it ? 

Trel. I think not, as it is at present. 

Ike. Then you won't have it, .roe. 

Trel. What are you going to do with your claim, 
Datchie? 

Dutch, [l.] Itink I vas going to sold dat long ago 
for more as you vas villing to hab give by me. 

Trel. You have sold it then ? 

Dutch. I tink I yoost hab done sometings like dat. 

Trel. What sold your claim when you promised 
to give me the first offer ? 

Dutch. You vas not villing to give so moch dan er 



39 

oner mans as givecl moch as you tienf times 

too moch. 
Trel. What other mani 
Dutch. Oxcoose me mein friend, Joseph, I mnstdo 

de best yat I can for meinself mit mine claim. 

ENTER Bill, S2jea7cs with Brackett. 

Trel. All right. I thought you were honest and 
could be trusted to act squarely. You under- 
stood the agreement, made a promise and broke 
it. Enough. Yon haven't sold your claim, 
Bill ? 

Bill, [l.] I would have held out, Joe, against bare- 
face'd treachery; but when my wife found out I 
held this claim she compelled me to surrender. 
The flesh yielded while the spirit groaned. I 
sold out, Joe, but make no boast of it. 

Trel. Will any of you men sell me the claims that 
I discovered ? 

Mich, [after a silence] I think they're all gone. 
Joe. Capitalists have been round here with 
lots of money, and the claims are sold. Worse 
luck ! 

Trel. Will you tell me who l)ought them ? 

Ike. We swore an oath to keep that secret. 

Trel. Very good: I have heard and seen enough. 
I had hoped that some spark of manliness re- 
mained among you. You have done a scurvy 
trick, unworthy of men who had been treated 
with kindness and generosity. 

Ike. Had we right on our side ? [Joe turns aioap. 

ENTER Father Manna cmd Minnie. 

Dave, [r.] You had the law, and that was all. Do 
you remember the job on the Rio Grande when 
Dick Larkins got the contract for a thousand 
men at two dollars and a hal f a day ? 

Bill. We do, the scoundrel. He paid" us two dol- 
lars, and pocketed a thousand half dollars a day. 

Ike. And we had him in court for fraud and rob- 
bery, the scurvy son of a cuss. 

Dave. Yes; and he and his boss. Cartridge, laughed 
at you as they unrolled the contract and your 
agreement to work for Llie price given. 

F. M. [coming down K. G.~\ And you would have 
torn them both to pieces if I had not been there. 
I am sorry you have done what Cartridge did, 



40 

relied on the letter of the law, and forgot your 
manly promise to hold those claims for your 
, friend who discovered them. You will excuse 
me, friends, if I interfere in this business to tell 
you that legally you are safe; but the whole 
transaction is anything but honorable. You 
have sworn to keep back the name of the pur- 
chaser, but he is there, in presence of the man 
he has betrayed while pretending to serve him. 
[Chord, all look at BexVckett. 

Trel. Have you been in my employ for the last six 
months ? 

Brack. [l.I.o.] Yes; and have done your work 
faithfully. 

Trel. Have you not been buying claims for John 
Cartridge \ 

Brack. No. 

Trel. Have you not to-day bought eleven claims 
here and paid over sixty thousand dollars % 

Brack. No. " ' 

Trel. Will you swear it 1 

Brack. I will. As God is my judge I've bought no 
claim in this camp ! 

MiCH. Oh ! holy murther ! 

Bill. H that's not a mouthful, the Lord help us. 

Dutch. Mein Grott, dat vas von big swear. 

F. M. God forgive you, Brackett, and wipe from 
your soul that awful perjury. 

Trel. Father Manna, let us leave this cursed camp. 
The dawn of the rising moon is already lighting 
up the snowy mountain tops. It will brighten 
our path and show us the road to Carey' s ranch, 
where we shall be welcome. 

F. M. Yes, Joe, I'd rather dwell with the savage 
Utes. They follow the bent of their uncultivat- 
ed nature, and never call God to bear witness to 
a lie. Dave, my faithful friend, and Minnie, 
true to the core, you both withstood the 
tempter ! May God bless you and keep you in 
the path of honesty and square dealing. 

Miisr. [r.] I won't stay with these horrid, ungrate- 
ful men ! Come, father, let us join them. 

Dave. Will you take us with you, Joe % 

Trel. Yes, indeed; but you've much to get ready. 
You can follow us. 

Dave. No; we can carry most of our traps, and the 
stage can bring the rest. Come, Minnie, let's 



41 

get ready, [business of packing.^ 

Trel. I should be doing you wrong, boys, if I left 
you without a very important scrap of informa- 
tion. That perjured traitor has received a 
steady income from my purse. 

F. M. I trust, Joe, you have not been blind to his 
villanies ? 

Trel. No; his every movement has been known to 
me. I have been warned of all his sneaking 
conspiracies, and know for whom he is working. 

F. M. Then he has not completely baffled you ? 

Tkel. Not quite. He has followed the trail of my 
discoveries as a jackal follows the hirnter. 

F. M. I was afraid you were indifferent to the ad- 
vice of your friends. 

Trel. No; to let the scoundrel succeed would have 
aided the cause of rascality. Silver CLiff was 
too great a success for a simple outsider, ^fy 
future discoveries were to be stolen, and this 
business was intrusted to our reflecting friend 
yonder. I, therefore, managed ray late dis- 
coveries to suit the emergency. 

F. M. I begin to breathe more freely. Proceed, Joe. 

Trel. This new camp was reported to Cartridge as 
a second Silver Cliff. He rose to the bait, and 
sent on his greenbacks to buy up and corrupt 
the men who held the claims in trust. Well— 
the end has come. He has bought those claims, 
and so far has triumphed. But he will find 
when his mills are erected and his machinery 
in full blast, that his valuable purchases are 
vast deposits of limestone, with no more silver 
than can be crashed out of the granite rocks of 
Manhattan Island ! 

All. Oh ! 

Mich. Sold, by the piper that played before Moses! 

[Brackett enraged shoots at Trellis and Jiits the 

Priest, who fails into Trellis's arms. Music] 

Mich. He's shot the priest, the sacrilegious mur- 

therer ! I'll kill him if I hang for it ! 
Miners. Lynch him ! Lynch him ! 
Bill. Death to the priest murderer ! 

[Brackett runs off i.. 1. e.. Miners, led by Mike, 

following. Moon rises. Music soft.'\ 
Dave. [r. c] This is bad business. Is it mortal, 
Joe? 



42 

Trel. [l.c] Let us cany him into the tent, and 
we'll soon measiire the trouble. 

F. M. [c] Let me rest here a moment, friends. 
Minnie, child, don't cry. Is it too late, Dave, 
to save that wretched man ? 

Dave. Don't trouble about that cuss, Father; he 
deserves all he'll get, and a darn sight more ! 

F. M. But he didn't mean to kill me. 

Teel. No; the bullet was meant for me. My life 
was worthless — yours valuable. 

F. M. Don't say that, Joe. God's will be done. If 
I should die, try to find the little consecrated 
burial ground by the cedars — away over there. 
{■pointing.'] Two missionary jiriests are lying 
there. Let my grave be near them. Dave, my 
boy, God bless you, and Minnie, my child, God 
bless and keep you ! [^She is sobhing at liis 
side. He blesses Iter.] 

Trel. Let us carry him in. 

F. M. Joe, rememiber the 8th of June ! See the 
Mother Superior — the Bishoj? — explain every- 
thing, and all will be right ! [^Faints. They 
2Jrepare to lift him.] 

F. M. [faintly] Dave, try and save Brackett, and 
say I forgive him, as I hope for forgiveness ! 
[ With cross to his lips he faints. Moon shin- 
ing on 7iis face. ] *■ 

SLOW CURTAIN. 

[Mysic cant ijiues soft until the Curtain is down, 
then changes to hurried, gradually increasing 
in volume until the Curtain is raised on the 
same scene, with Priest removed.] 

ENTER Michael dragging on Brackett, l.I.e, 
in a very disorderly condition, head tied xi/p and. 
arm wounded. Miners, with rope, following. 

Brack, [c] You might as well finish your work; 

you've shown your brutal strength in cowardly 

numbers. [Miners throwing rojye over tree.] 
Mich, [r.c] And you showed your^jbrutal strength 

in cowardly shootin' a harmless priest — and 

yer'll hang for it ! 
Brack. He was shot by accident ; I had no quarrel 

with the priest. 



43 

Mich. Didn't ye try to innrther him? 
Bill, [r.] And you've succeeded, for he' s dead ! 
Brack. Let me have a fair trial with judge and jury. 
Bill We know all about judges and lawyers ! 

Cartridge could control a whole legislature. 

We'll not risk their interference with jnstice ! 
Mich. No; they never hang murtherers in these 

parts ! 
Brack. How do you know the priest is dead ? 

ENTER Trellis and T)AY-Efroin Tent. 

Trel. (r.c.) Hold, boys! this is savage revenge — 
unworthy of men who know the law, and claim 
it's protection ! 

Mich. Would ye be afther defendin' the likes of 
him, Joe ? He tried to murther you, the thief 
o' the world ! Let us hang the blackguard ! 

Trel. We are not his judges ! 

Mich. Didn't he kill Father Manna? 

Trel. No; he's still alive, and sends his dying re- 
quest to spare the man ! 

Mich. God bless him ! But if he escapes, Joe, he'll 
never be convicted ! Cartridge will save him ! 
Let us wring his murtherous neck ! 

Trel. No, Mike, as citizens we must stop this bar- 
barous proceeding ! Besides if he shot at me I 
ought to have some voice in his punishment ! 
The quarrel is between us two. He has suffered 
enough ! 

Brack. My arm is shattered, my skull smashed — 
kicked and trampled on like a wolf ! 

Mich. A wolf's a lamb to ye, ye white-livered thief. 

Brack. Am I to be the scapegoat while the real 
criminal is sheltered in luxury ? 

Trel. The real criminal ? 

Brack. Yes ; John Cartridge, who paid me to 
thwart you at ever^r step; murder you if neces- 
sary. 

Dutch, (l.) So! I tinks yoa vas known Dick 
Larkins and Ned Johnson ? 

Brack. Yes; Brackett is only another mask ! I 
was Ned Johnson and Dick Larkins before 
Cartridge promoted me to higher villainies ! 
Carry me to Denver, boys, and receive a reward 
of five thousand dollars ! 

Dutch, {crossings.) Which I will be pleased to 
earn ! Edward Johnson, I arrest you for the 



44 

murder of Sam Nelson. Here's my warrant ! 

Trel. What, Diitchie, a detective 1 

Dutch. T am Edward John Forbes, of the Secret 
Service ! 

Mich. Hurry up, boys, the villain will escape ! 

Dutch. Stop, this man's too valuable to choke with 
crimes unrevealed ! He was the machine — the 
law wants the mainspring — the motive power. 
Leonard Trellis, David Selwyn and William 
Brown, I call upon you to aid the law. After 
eighteen months' search I have found this bank 
robber, forger and murderer ! I am armed with 
authority, and have toiled long in search of him 
and his accomplices ! 

Mich. Hang the law ! Our law is sure and swift. 
Western law for western people ! 

Trel Hold ! This man is a sheriff. Let justice 
have control of this case. We boast of our in- 
telligence and glory in our country. Let us 
show the traders of the East that we are not 
barbarous. We elect our Judges and appoint 
our ofBcers. Let us in the name of common 
sense abide by the result.' 

Dutch. In the name of the law, in the name of the 
people who make the law, I command you to 

; deliv^er-up this law- breaker. ■ 

Miners. No; lynch him! ■'' ;f:. ;-• • '■ " - 
:' ■ Mich. [t7i^&'im ihernoo^e 'dvef-'BiaAC'K.E'rr's 7imS] ' 'Up 
f; . . withfhim b6yg'!--- . ''- ■ «■ . 

'.j|.7;7af„ M:lN^RS„fPull.. at"ffie en(^ of their pp&^ Dave 
anid, Trellis seize hold of the middle,' J)\ncm^ 
c&irerinff-Mi'N-ERS with Pis'tol, Brackett crouch- 
' ing at their feet.'] 

-■ ENTER MiNNiE/rom i!e?z2!. 

' MiN. Hold! Father Manna' s dying request, "Spare 
the man who shot him by accident. 

QTHCK CURTAIN. 



Mike. 


DUTCIIIE. 




Dave. 


Brackett. 


Ike. 


Trellis. 




Miners. 


Bill. Minnie. 




Miners, 



45 

ACT III. 

SCENE — Ante-room in Convent. Corridor at 
back leading to Chapel, r. Cross, with stained 
glass xoindow above it, 2 g. r. Prie-dieu r. c. 
Table with writing materials and Chair _ l. 

Music in Chapel, as curtain rises. Nuns seen 

going in to service. 

ENTER Maud l. u. e. and Sister Agatha from 
Chapel. 

Aga. [r. kissing Maud] Let me congratulate vou, 
Sister Ursula ! The feast of the Sacred Heart 
seemed a long way off last Easter. It is now- 
here, with the glorious flowers and songs of 
birds. Tell me if you are very happy. 

Maud, [l.] I don't know what happiness is. I am 
contented and resigned. 

Aga. Happiness is innocent enjoyment of all kinds 
— "our being's end and aim." You will soon 
pass the state of felicity to a condition of bles- 
sedness after your reception to-day. 

Maud. What is blessedness ? 

Aga. a refined enjoyment arising from the purest 
religious affections. Bliss is an exalted delight 
awaiting us in heaven. 

Maud. Dear Agatha, your temperament, training 
and experience are so different to mine that we 
can scarcely be expected to feel alike socially 
or religiously, I am resigned, while you are 
happy. 

Aga. But you would not re-enter the world : for 
"happy is she who from the world retires, and 
carries with her what the world admires." 

Maud. I have no world to re-enter or regret. What 
to me was world, and life and very breath is 
gone — vanished like the remains of an evening 
holocaust. I am here in fulfillment of a solemn 
promise, and will accept the consequences of 
my vow. I can rise to no higher level of hap- 
piness. 

Aga. My poor Ursula, would that I could share 
with you the happiness I feel to-day. 1 will 
pray for you. 

EXIT L. u E. 

[MuPio. Maud walk.'i slouil?/ to cross r. and gazes. ] 



40 

Maud. O, thou Man of Sorrows, loneliness and pain! 
Grant me courage to bear this aching, gnawing, 
grief ! Pour into my poor benumbed soul a ray 
of kindling warmth ! I ask not for happiness, 
but relief from dull, lingering pain, or at least 
for strength to bear the load of my secret sor- 
row ! And, oh ! thou friend of the wretched, 
comfort him whose love I bartered for a father's 
ransom ! Guide his footsteps, cheer his loneli- 
ness, and pardon the love I still bear him ! 
Remember thy own words when upon earth — 
"her sins, which, are many, are forgiven; for 
she loved much." Thou knowest, and thou 
alone, how much — how intensely I have loved; 
and God help and pardon me — how I still love. 

[She throws herself at foot of cross and grasps it. 
Choir in chapel bursts out in singing.'] 

ENTER Mother Superior, l.u. e. reading letters, 
with Agatha in attendance. 

M. S. Not here, my child, but in the chapel, before 
the altar. Let your supplication be breathed 
out in silent adoration, "as the rapt seraph that 
adores and burns." 

Maud, [rising'] Pardon me, reverend mother, I 
strive for the calmness and serenity you enjoy, 
and the tranquil peace experienced by my dear 
companions. 

M. S. And you will be rewarded, my daughter, for 
your earnest prayer for that peace which the 
world cannot give. To-day your well-kept vow 
will be solemnly fulfilled, and your sacrifice be 
completed. 

[Music. TJiey lead Maud up into Chapel and 
return.] 

Aga. [l.] Has Father Manna arrived ? 

M. S. [r] Yes, my child, late last night; but weary 
and weak. He has had much difficulty in 
reaching us in time for our festival. 

Aga. You told me he was wounded and danger- 
ously ill. 

M. S. Yes: he was wounded by accident on the eve 
of his dei)arture for this parish. His appoint- 
ment reached him when lying at the point of 
death in a log cabin, attended by a couple of 
companions, and nursed by the daughter of one 
of the miners. 



47 

Aga. Was Father Bailey in time to assist him in 
his illness ? 

M. S. No; he reached Colorado only in time to learn 
that Father Manna was dead, and buried in the 
pine woods near the camp where he was shot. 

Aga. How strange. Did he proceed to the camp. 

M. S. Yes, my child, without delay; but found the 
camp broken up, and the cabin deserted. 

Aga. And Father Manna % 

M. S. Had been removed from the miner's cabin 
across the hills and ravines of the rocky moun- 
tains. In so wild a country Father Bailey was 
unable to follow up the pursuit owing to con- 
flicting rumors. 

Aga. Was there no doctor with them ? 

M. S. [looking at letter^ The friend who stayed 
with him was fortunately skillful and expe- 
rienced. He managed to extract the bullet, and 
prescribe such remedies as were at hand. 

Aga. This seclusion in the mountains accounts for 
the contradictory rumors received from Father 
Bailey. 

M. S. Yes; in this letter he writes: "I have suc- 
ceeded in following the trail of my poor friend 
among these rugged hills. A party of miners 
brought the sad, news that our friend is buried 
by the side of our martyred missionaries in the 
little consecrated plot under the ^ shade of the 
. mournful .cedai*s.. ■ Hequiescat in pace. ' ' 

Aga. But Father Manna i-s not under the -cedars 1 

M. S. No, my child; but he tells me he had expres- 
sed: a wish tQ:be buried- there wlien .he felt his 
life ebbing away. 

Aga. He must have had a hard fight for life. 
Has the bishop arrived ? 

M. S. Not yet. Dr. Morris, Bishop of Buffalo, who 
sails for Euroiie on Saturday, will officiate; for 
the Cardinal Archbishop. 

ENTER Nun l. 1 e. with letter and card, for M. S. 

M. S. [to Agatha] Show Colonel Lyndhurst this 
way. EXEUNT Agatha and Nun l. 1 e. 

M. S. [reading letter.^ 

ENTER Colonel l. 1. e. and, bows. 
M. S. [r.] Your visit is well timed. With your 
card comes this letter from the man we would 
least desire to see. 



48 

Col. [l.] Leonard Trellis ^ 

M. S. Yes; jarotesting against the sinful conspiracy 
which has kept him from an interview with 
Maud, or her guardian. Have you seen him 1 

Col. No ; but I received a message from him 
asking for an interview. 

M. S. When? 

CoL. Some days ago. 

M. S. And you declined? 

CoL. Peremptorily. I informed him that my 
daughter's mind was at rest; that his presence 
would disturb her; that she looked forward to 
the close of her novitiate, and was happy in her 
choice of life. If he had any regard for her 
welfare, he would not intrude where his pre- 
sence miTst necessarily be unwelcome ; and I 
assured him of her determination to keep her 
solemn promise. 

M. S. And this was the last communication ? 

CoL. Yes; as far as I am concerned; but my" friend 
Cartridge has his agents as close to Trellis as 
his very shadow. His every movement is kaown, 
and his journey to New York would be flashed 
along the wires with unerring speed and cer- 
tainty. 

M. S. I am relieved from a weight of anxiety, as I 
fear his influence is still potent. His presence 
might disturb the sensibility of our delicate 
mimosa. And you. Colonel, are you resigned 
to the loss of your daughter ? 

CoL. I have lost her for two years, without a hope 
of restoration, or the recovery of my happiness. 
Her marriage with Trellis would entail serioias 
trouble on me and the family; her stay in the 
convent would be a lighter calamity. 

M. S. Calamity ? 

Col. Yes; a calamity that scathes and scorches. I 
cannot rejoice at the prospect of a closeted and 
handcufi'ed career for a girl as social as Maud. 

M. S. We can hardly expect a Protestant soldier to 
appreciate the blessings of a tranquil cloistered 
life. 

Col. I am free from prejudice where religious con- 
viction asks for sympathy; but I fear our Maud 
is utterly unfltted for the life you propose for 
her. 

M. S. You forget, Colonel, the proposal came from 



49 

your daughter: the vocation, we believe, from 
heaven. 

Col. I offered no objection, good mother; my opin- 
ion was given by your own request. But this 
early visit had a special object. It was to ob- 
tain permission for my friend, John Cartridge 
to be present at the ceremony. 

M. S. Certainly, its pi-ivate nature was arranged at 
your oWn special desire, not ours. You may 
introduce your friends with pleasure. 

Col. This is all I need trouble you with at present. 
I shall bring my friend with me in time for the 
ceremony. EXIT l 1. 

ENTER AftATHA L. u. 
Aga. Father Manna was in the library asking for 

you, and I said you were here. 
M. S. Quite right, my child. I will see him. 

EXIT Agatha l. u. 

Music. ENTER Trellis disguised as Father 
Manna, l. u. 

M. S. [r.] Your pleasure, good Father ? 

Trel. [l.] I had forgotten to ask yon, reverend 
Mother, if the sister, about to take the veil, has 
been duly pi'epared for the ceremony ? 

M. S. Yes, by Father Bailey. We have had several 
temporary chaplains since his departure, but I 
hardly think they have siiecially attended to 
her case. Would you like to see her ? 

Trel. Perhaps it would be better before presenting 
her to the bishop. 

M. S. I will bring her to you here. 

[Music. EXIT into Chapel. 

Trel. Thus far I have escaped the snares that 
threatened to entangle me. Stratagem in love 
and war. A forlorn hope of marvellous peril. 
My last and only chance. Failure here is irre- 
trievable ruin. 

RE-ENTER Mother Superior with Maud. Trel- 
lis motions to Maud to he seated. She sits r. 
of prie-dieu. Trellis l EXIT M. S. l.u. 

Trel. Daughter — [she looJcs up'] — the Mother Supe- 
rior has apprised me of your intention to leave 
the world, and take the solemn vows that will 
forever bind you to the service of Grod. 



50 

Maud. Yes, Father, my mind is fully made up; I 
am resigned. 

Trel. Resigned? We speak of resignation to the 
will and providence of God. Do you consider 
this step a formal and deliberate surrender of 
all that the world can offer ? 

Maud. I devote myself, without mental reservation, 
to the service of God and the duties of this 
convent. 

Trel. When did you feel the first call to this holy 
state of cloistered retii'ement ? 

Maud, It was a sudden impulse, not a call. 

TuEL. Impulse, my daughter, is an external influ- 
ence upon the mind. Can the impelling force 
be traced to its source 1 

Maud. The influence acted unexpectedly, and with 
almost momentary force. 

Trel. In a true vocation we feel a tractive force, 
gentle, yet continuous, as is the force of gravity. 
Had disappointment any influence — 

Maud. Yes: I was disappointed of my hopes; my 
aims were crossed; I gave my life to save my 
father from ruin ! 

Trel. And did it save him? 

Maud. For a time only. The evil genius that 
darkened my life and his, bore heavily on my 
family, and made my sacrifice — in its result and 
consequence — almost null and void. 

Trel. Had you reason to believe that heaven was 
pleased with this sacrifice ? 

Maud. I thought but little of heaven; did not ana- 
lyze my motives ; was a Protestant when I 
entered the convent. It was a pure commercial 
bargain. I was the ransom which procured the 
release of my family from the bondage of debt. 

Trel. Were you free to offer yourself ? Was the 
ransom pledged, or promised to another ? 

Maud. I was engaged to be married; but was re- 
leased by my — 

Trel. Husband, if solemnly engaged to marry him. 
Heaven records all such contracts, though the 
promise should be whispered in the forest's 
deepest gloom. Did you love him ? 
Maud. I did. 

Trel. And do you now ? 

Maud. God help and pardon me, I do love him, in 
sjiite of all my prayers, and tears, and penances. 



51 

Trel. My daughter, the ehiirch is not hostile to 
love; biit upholds, cherishes, and sanctifies it, 
as long as it is pure and legitimate. Marriage 
with her is not simply a social contract, but a 
holy sacrament. 

Maud. Oh, Father, God knows how hard I have 
struggled; the nights of prayer; the days of 
fasting; the tears, and groans, and agony of 
soul, all to smother the love that possesses and 
consumes my soul ! 

Trel. In plain words, he is still dear to you, and 
holds a place in your heart. Your separation 
is virtually a necessity, not a choice. 

Maud. Oh, Father, I am afraid so. [sobs.] 

Trel. My duty, daughter, obliges me to remove 
this dreadful anxiety; and my knowledge of 
the obligations of a vow, and the conditions 
under which lawful oaths should be taken and 
rash ones broken, enables me to solemnly inform 
you that your sacrifice was a rash, impulsive 
phmge from light to darkness; not guided by 
heaven, but urged and impelled by terror and 
oppression. You are, therefore, according to 
the teachings of the church, released from an 
obligation which is unlawful, and as free as you 
were the hour you sought the retreat of this 
convent. 

Maud. My freedom. Father, is no boon. Without 
him I cannot live but in sorrow and seclusion. 

Trel. Is he alive ? 

Maud. I have heard nothing of him, not even his 
name, for the last two years. 

Trel. My daughter, would you keep your engage- 
ment, were he, Leonard Trellis, in person to 
demand its fulfillment ? 

Maud, [falls on knees'] Do you know him ? Oh, 
Father, raise no hope, lift me not up to dash 
me again to earth ! My heart would burst ! 

Trel. [rising] Listen, daughter, and stir not. Tell 
me if you can kneel as motionless as yonder 
marble Madonna while I speak to you of him 
you love, of him who still loves you? 

Maud. Oh, Father, is he alive ? Shall I see him 
again ? 

Trel. I fear to tell you, lest your emotion should 
betray you. We are not in the confessional, 
but conversing in fall view of this convent 



world. [Music] 

Maud. Yon may trust me ! Neither sign nor word 
will betray your coniidence ! I am pulseless — 
marble ! 

Trel. When wounded in the miners' camp I was 
attended by T-eonard Trellis. We were fast 
friends before the accident, and I was anxious 
to aid him. Could you have remained in the 
convent peacefully he would never disturb the 
seclusion of her for whom he would give his life! 
This interview will rouse him to a sense of his 
rights and his duties ! Control your agitation, 
my child, answer the bishop with truth and 
confidence, and be well assured tliat he whom 
you love will be here to claim his true and 
faithful bride ! 

Maud. If this be a dream may I never awake ! 
"Rise up, my love and come ! For lo ! the win- 
ter is past, the rain is over and gone ! The 
flowers appear on the earth; the time of the 
singing of birds is come ! Arise, my love, my 
beloved and come !" 

\S7j,7l shines on her through stained glass window. 
Trellis gazing at her. ENTER Mother Supe- 
KiOK L. u. Trellis goes tip and speaks to her, 
aTitZEXITL. u.] 

M. S. {lifting her up] Happiness envelopes you as 
a halo. Thank God, my child for this rapture. 
May it be the harbinger of many a blissful hour. 

Maud, [emhracing her] Amen ! Mother, Amen ! 

M. S. And now, my child, array yourself in your 
most attractive dress to symbolize your free 
choice and perfect renunciation of the world 
you abandon. EXEUNT l. u. 

ENTER Agatha, Colonel and, Cartridge, l. 1. 

Aga. The Mother Superior was here only a moment 
ago. 

Col. Don' t disturb her, I pray. We can wait com- 
fortably here, if you will allow us. 

Aga. The library is in there [pointing L. 3.] 

Cart. Thanks, we can wait for our friends there. 

EXIT Agatha l. u. 

Col. [e. c] I feel somewhat guilty in having with- 
held from Maud the real facts about Trellis. 



P3 

Cart. "What facts? 

Col. His manly determination to achieve success as 
soon as he had an invigorating motive. 

Cakt. And is nothing due to my manly determina- 
tion, to thwart him in his achievement, and to 
baffle his deeply-laid schemes ? 

CoL. Do you look for success in this enterprize ? 

Cart. Look for it? I pursue it, run it down, grasp 
it, and trample on everything that hinders the 
chase ! 

Col. But Trellis is speeding with full sail, luck at 
the stern and fortune at the bow. 

Cart. But the privateer is scudding across his path, 
and will send an unerring shot into his vital 
timbers, and sink him in fathoms of pitiless 
ocean. 

CoL. Is he in the city ? 

Cart. In the city ? If he had the guidance of 
Mejihistopheles, the power of Hamlet' s ghost, 
he would not be live minutes in New York 
without my knowledge ! Why, man, if the 
wealth at my command could not keep this 
man's movements ever pi'esent before my eyes, 
I would sink it in the North river as useless 
dross ! 

CoL. Then you consider him a rival — a competitor ? 

Cart. More than that — an antagonist in a life and 
death contest, and therefore an enemy ! 

CoL. No; not therefore. A contest is strife, and is 
often decided by a violent struggle. But once 
decided enmity ceases; and revenge — 

Cart. But the conflict between Trellis and Cartridge 
is not over. It is no glove fight, but a mortal 
combat. 

Col. In which you were the aggressor. 

Cart. Yes, and the assailant. Every conflict must 
be begun and ended. The fairest realms of 
God's earth are held by right of conquest, and 
the holders have no scruples about the jasticeof 
their claim. 

Col. a pitiless philosophy ! 

Cart. As pitiless as Nature. To pursue happiness 
is to chase and overtake it, or the pursuit is 
worthless. Trellis impedes my pursuit, and 
stops my progress. 

CoL. And therefore must be destroyed. 

Cakt. Not necessarily; but brushed aside, snp- 



54 

pressed, or at least wing-clipped. 

Col. If report be true, his wing is strong, and his 
flight like the eagle's. 

Caet. Trellis holds cards that could easily win. 
His mining studies in Germany are turned to 
practical use; his education carries weight, and 
his temperament is social. Among miners his 
careless Bohemian manner rolls up heaps of 
friends. But all the wisdom is not in his sole 
possession. Some of it belongs to John Cart- 
ridge. 

Col. And how is the contest progressing thus far ? 

Cart. Oh, Trellis is seemingly far ahead; but actual- 
ly nowhere. His fortifications are honeycombed 
and magazined with moral dynamite. I could 
blow him to atoms by the crook of a finger. 

Col. You don' t fear his success with Maud ? 

Cakt. Now you've touched a vulnerable spot. 
There I am weak, and almost helpless. This 
ceremony to-day is to me a defeat, a Waterloo; 
but it is preferable to his success. 

Col. Then you are resigned to her taking the veil ? 

Cart. Resigned? I am never resigned while the 
faintest ray of hope remains. I would burn 
down the convent, or build a hospital; would 
destroy or endow; would curse or pray; would 
be cruel or kind; would, in fact, act, strain 
every nerve, and turn on the full power of my 
resources, to gain the one crowning success of a 
life of victories ! 

ENTER Maud, in evening dress, l. tj. 

Ah, Miss Lyndhurst, radiant and smiling. 
Maud, [c] Welcome, father, \]c^sses^ and welcome, 

Mr. Cartridge. So you've come to my wedding? 
Cart. To your funeral. Don' t call it a wedding, 

though you look a bride fit for an emperor ! 
Maud. Or T>uke of Carrara ! Are you married yet, 

Mr. Cartridge ? 
Cart. Miss Lyndhurst, lam glad to see you happy, 

and to hear your merry laugh; but don't joke 

on a subject so painful. On you, and you 

alone, depends my happiness. 
Col. Your mother should be here bv this time, I 

will wait for her at the door. " EXIT l. 1. 

Maud. \conjid°MtiaUy\ Mr. Cartridge, you are a 

friend of the family, of my father, and of me. 



Cart. Of you most assuredly, and of the family on 
your account. 

Maud. Just so. I have just heard from my con- 
fessor that I am not free to take the veil. 

Cart. The very identical opinion of your friend and 
confessor, John J. Cartridge, The man de- 
serves to be a bishoj). I'll buy a cathedral for 
him, or a reversion to the Popedom . 

Maud. But Popes are Italians and must live in Rome. 

Cart. But an American Pope need not live in Rome. 
New York is the centre of the world. 

Maud. \smiUng~\ I thought it was Boston. But 
the popes did not always live in Rome. You 
remember A.vignon ? 

Cart. Certainly, where the popes were consecrated 
in its cathedral and lived in its palace. But I 
remember its silk and velvet better. The 
steamers that ply from Avignon to Lyons be- 
long to me. The railways to Montpelier and 
Marseilles are under my control. 

Maud. But not the popes ? 

Cart. Why not? They should live here where re- 
ligion is free for popes, or mandarins, patri- 
archs, rabbis, or Grand Lamas, and where they 
can be controlled by superior power. 

Maud. Passion is controlled by reason. 

Cart. When reason is stronger everything can be 
controlled by superior power. I have a friend 
who controls fifty thousand votes in this city. 
They move at his touch like bobbins on a spin- 
ning jenny, [,yo/^^y/] and I control this controller. 

Maud, [loliispering'] Who controls you ? 

Cart. Maud Lyndhurst. 

Maud. Then think of me, and aid me. , 

Cart. I am always thinking of you, Maud. How 
can I aid you ? , 

Maud. Do you love me 1 

Cart. Heaven — 

Maud. Don't swear — in a convent it's not allowed. 

Cart. Is'ntit? then I won't; but you know I love 
you as only a strong, brave man can love. 

Maud. Do you wish me to be happy ? 

Cart. I would lay down my life for you. 

Maud. But I don't want a funeral on my account. 
I want you alive. 

Cart. You've got me alive, strong and full of 
energy. 



56 

Maud. I'm so glad — you will, find Leonard Trellis 
for me. 

Caet. [staring aghasf] Leonard Trellis ! Find liim 
for you ? 

Maud. You know I was engaged to him before I 
oame here. 

Cart. I do: and I know he went off to the Cannibal 
Islands, or rocky mountains, and forgot his 
eastern friends. 

Maud. As true as most rumors. He has written to 
the Mother Superior, and ought to be here to- 
day. 

Cart. [thinMng'] He would know of this ceremony 
—it has been announced in the papers. He 
would, of course, be present if he cared for you. 
A true test. Vv'ould you marry him ? 

Maud. I have no choice in the matter — my engage- 
ment is binding on my conscience. 

Cart. Miss Lyndhurst, I offered you friendship and 
love. The refusal of the second in no way de- 
prives you of the first. I acknowledge the 
claim of Trellis, and will do my best to bring 
, you together. Should he decline to urge his 
■ claim, I shall offer myself as a friend and com- 
panion, with the hope that my devotion will 
kindle in you sufficient love to justify an honor- 
able marriage between us. 

Maud. Nobly spoken; but first discover if Trellis 
is in the city. 

Cart, {eagerly^ I can do that with ease and dis- 
patch. Defer the ceremony till I return. 

EXIT L. ] . 

Maud. John Cartridge, your theories and principles 
are rising up to confront you, and you do not 
recognize them. You are strong — 1 aai weak; 
you have power and resources, while I am help- 
less, weak and defenceless. You have taught 
me to rely upon stratagem in war: yon stand as 
a fortress — blocking my path to happiness — 
impregaable and unassailable. Am I to submit 
to misery and bondage, ox to exert the powers 
I possess to escape the grasp of an enemy % 

ENTER Mrs. Lyndhurst, l. ] e. 

Ah! Mother, welcome I Why you've been 
weeping \ 
Mrs. L. ["l.] a little, my child, liUt its over now. 



57 

Are you happy, Maud ? 

Maud. Look at me, mother, do I look miserable ? 

Mks. L. It' s a pleasure to see you robed as a living 
woman, not shrouded as an Egyptian mummy ! 

Maud. So you don't like the fashion of our dress ? 

Mrs. L. I am not partial to the dress of a corpse. 
It reminds me too much of "the knell, the 
shroud, the mattock and the grave, the deep 
damp vault, the darkness and the worm." 

Maud. You would prefer me to keep this worldly 
dress, and not resume my winding sheet ? 

Mrs. L. I have long since ceased to wish or hope. 

Maud. Then treat yourself to one wish to-day. 

Mrs. L. Ah, my darling, I am glad to see you in 
such good spirits. Could my desire be fnlfilled 
I would lly with you to our little snuggery. on 
Lake George, and live on the remnant of my 
own small income. 

Maud. I remember our little cottage on twelve 
mile Island. The beautiful island of twenty 
acres, with Tongue Mountain in front, and 
Black Mountain looking down upon the Nar- 
rows. Do we still own the snuggery ? 

Mrs. L. We own no spot on earth. Your father 
accumulates nothing but debts. 

Maud. Is he extravagant? 

Mrs. L. Not at all: but ambitious and infatuated. 
He is tempted to invest, seems certain to succeed, 
at the very moment of some miserable collapse. 

Maud. Why does he continue to meddle with 
business ? 

Mrs. L. He is lost in a labyrinth of financial 
perplexities. His efforts are directed towards 
freedom; but the windings are too dark and in- 
tricate. Cartridge holds him eiitangled, and he 
is fascinated by the brilliant success of this 
millionaire. 

Maud. Then I must marry Cartridge, and end the 
troubles. 

Mrs. L. It would probably end the Colonel's 
troubles, and begin yours and mine. 

Maud". Why yours, mother? 

Mrs. L. How can you ask, my darling ? A moth- 
er s sympathy binds her to her daugliter. 

Maud. Then I must marry Trellis. 

Mrs. L. Poor Leonard; Don't joke nbout him, 
Maud, but pray for him if he's alive. 



58 

Maud. Listen, mother, a little bird came hopping on 
to the sash of my window, and chirped out a 
pretty little song about Leonard. 

Mrs. L. It must have been an owl. No bird would 
chiiTup here. 

Maud. Don't speak so loud. Come this way and 
ril tell you what the little bird sang. 

EXEUNT L. V E. 
ENTER Colonel and Cartridge l. 1. e. 

Cart. [r. ] This hour is the very crisis of my fate. 
All my stock of caution and prudence must now 
be concentrated upon this one absorbing trouble. 

Col. Is he in town ? 

Cart, [examining telegrams'] He is and he is not. 
He is still in Topeka, shadowed by Tompkins; 
Walters travelled with him to St. Louis, where 
he keeps him within range of his practised eye. 
And here comes the answer from Daniels assur- 
ing me of his presence in Philadelphia. 

CoL. Does any one say he's in New York? 

Cart, [fiercely'] No; he couldn't possible get into 
the city without being arrested. 

CoL. Arrested — what for ? 

Caht. How simple you are. Colonel. Can't a man 
be arrested upon any charge, and held for 
inquiry ? 

CoL. But he can clear himself. 

Cart. Possibly, when the inquiry comes oif. But 
the delays of the law are proverbial, and bail is 
refused when the crime is murder. 

CoL. Murder? 

Cart. Father Manna, a missionary priest, has sud- 
denly disappeared. He was last seen with 
Trellis and a mining partner. The case itself 
would excite but little notice out west. But 
my agents blew the spark into a flame, and 
nursed it into a mighty blaze. Wainwright, of 
Denver (\ylio is under obligation to me) has sent 
a requisition to the Governor of our State. 

Col. But you don't believe Trellis killed the priest? 

Cart. I neithei' know nor care. The requisition is 
at hand, and the officers of the law will pounce 
upon him with the fnry of a vulture. 

CoL. Vultures feed on carcasses. 

Cart Do they? My vultures feed on rewards, 
crisp greenbacks and shining eagles [chinking 
gold]^ 



59 

Col. Then yoii are sure of Ms absense from the 
convent to-day « 

Cart. Positive ; but not of his whereabouts. 
Brackett's silence has broken a link of ray 
chain of information. His reported presence 
in various cities would infer unusual skill in 
baffling my scouts. Bat I must see Maud be- 
fore this business commences [looking at 
watcJi]. And you, Colonel, see Captain MuUins 
again. Tell him I hold him personally res- 
ponsible that this building be guarded as the 
apple of his eye. A.s captain of the precinct he 
can see to its approaches, and his men mast 
know the familiar face of Leonard Trellis. 

EXIT Colonel l. 1. 
ENTER Agatha l. u. e. 

Cart. Excuse me, could I see Miss Lyndhurst — I 
mean Sister Ursula ? 

Aga. She was talking just now to her mother. She 
is coming this way. 

ENTER Maud l. v. e. 
Cart. I am much obliged. 

EXIT Agatha in Chapel. 
Cart. I have news for my smiling cherub. 
Maud. [l. smiling] Or seraph ? 
Cart. {^-puzzledX Which is higher, brighter, su- 
perior ? 
Maud. Cherubs know most, seraphs love most. 
Cart. Then I'm on the track for once; few cherubs 

can excel you in knowledge. Your steady love 

for Trellis would honor a seraph. 
Maud, [quickly] Where is he ? 
Cart. In the city. 
Maud. In the city ? 
Cart. Yes; he was playing cards last night, at the 

Manhattan. He will, possibly, be here, if 

wealth has not changed him. 
Maud. Why he's not rich — I wish he were. 
Cart. Oh, yes; he has made some lucky guesses in 

mining lotteries, and has drawn some big prizes. 

He's a man of importance now, and may not 

care to look up his old friends. 
Maud. Mr. Cartridge, I have faith in Leonard 

Trellis. 
Cart. For my part I don't distrust him. 



60 

Maitd. I am solemnly engaged to him. Should he 
not care to claim my hand I am free to closefor 
ever my engagement with the world. 

Cart. Or marry me. 

Maud, [slowly] Yes, or marry you. But experi- 
ence of my father's aptitude for letting his pro- 
perty slip through his fingers, takes away the 
hope of my ever being able to secure a compe- 
tency for the family by any arrangement that I 
can enter into. 

Cart. Maud, with a stroke of my pen I could place 
your father in possession of such securities as 
the powers of hell could not touch or depreciate. 
Solid bonds, over which floats the flag of the 
mighty commonwealth, can be transferred with 
ease and dispatch. 

Maud. On what condition ? 

Cart. Your solemn promise before that silent 
Madonna that you will marry me this very day. 

Maud. If — 

Cart. \tMnMng'\ Leonard Trellis does not claim 
you in person before the ceremony is over. 

Maud. Do you acknowledge his right and title to 
my hand. 

CAiiT. Assuredly, and will never dispute it. 

Maud, [quietly presenting lier hands'] Give me the 
assurance that my father is once more in easy 
circumstances, and I promise as solemnly as a 
promise can be given that only the personal 
appearance of Leonard Trellis will prevent my 
being married to you this very day. 

Cart. Victory ! 

Maud. Not yet. Not a living soul must know of 
this promise. You must believe me. 

Cart. Your word is infallible; your promise as 
potent as a word from heaven ! I will do what 
is necessary at once, and the motive of m)^ work 
shall be known only to you and to me — 

Maud. And to God. 

Cart. And to God — and [solemnly] so help me 
heaven I will keep the secret. 

Maud. And should Trellis appear — 

Cart. As heaven is above. I will retire defeated, 
but without a murmur. 

Maud. And without recalling your gift? 

Cart. My gifts will ho l)eyotul the recall of the 
"iver. 



•61 
ENTER Colonel and Mrs. Ltndiiurst, l. 1. 

Caet. [^oCol.] What would cover the expenses of 
your family could they live in comfort, elegance 
and even luxury? [Maud and Mrs. L. up. 

CoL. [L. ] I used to spend twenty thousand a year 
when flourishing, with Maud at school, and 
everything snug and comfortable; but we could 
do with less now. [EXIT Maud l. u. 

Cart. [r. c. to Mrs L. coming down'] My respect 
for your daughter will never cease; my personal 
acquaintance must end with her linal with- 
drawal from the world. She is anxious about 
you — wants nothing for herself. I can only 
show my regard and love for Jier by benefitting 
you. I have nothing now to gain. Should she 
even choose to marry — it would be Trellis to 
whom she would give her hand, and he has a 
jnst and honest title. 

Mrs. L. [l.] God bless you for such a sentiment. 

Cart. I must make a confession. No place so ap- 
propriate as a chapel. Colonel, I have tried my 
best to get your daughter in marriage, and my 
plans have been laid at your expense. 

Col. [l.] I can hardly credit that. 

Cart. Yes; your misfortune was intended to work 
upon Maud, with a view to her relenting to save 
you from trouble and anxiety. 

CoL. Nothing honorable there. 

Cart. No ; but everything strategical and diplo- 
matic. But I must place you. Colonel, where I 
found you — in alfluence and comfort — 

CoL. By charity 1 

Cart. No; by right, by restitution. I have half a 
million four per cent, bonds in the Merchants 
National Bank, [crosses to table, L.] This 
paper will transfer them to you for value re- 
ceived. The interest on said bonds will give 
twenty thousand dollars a year, [signing] This 
signature has taken them from my control, and 
they belong to Col. Arthur Lyndhurst, wlio 
will lose no time in personally effecting the 
transfer, and placing his property where he 
thinks it will be secure [gives pape7\] 

Mrs. L. Mr. Cartridge, I cannot believe you would 
commit an act of charity. The Colonel was 
well off and unembarrassed wlien lie first be- 



62 

came acquainted with you and your financial 
friends. If lie is now receiving his rights — 
Caet. His just rights, madam. His name has 
brought us thousands. Let him hasten to the 
bank, so that Maud may be relieved of her 
anxiety before she takes the veil. Yoii need 
not tell her how the change in your circum- 
stances has been effected. Not another word. 
And, Colonel, this letter from the Secretary of 
War places at my disj^osal the very position 
you have been so anxious to obtain. Here is 
the reply. Send it by telegram. 

Colonel takes papers^ sJiakes hands, and EXIT 
witJi Mrs. L. l 1. ENTER Maud l. u. 

Cart. [l. c] Your father will soon be able to assure 
you of his arrival in safe harbor. 

Maud, [c] One step further. You have no scruple 
ia depriving the convent «f my services ? 

Cakt. Not the faintest ghost of a shadow of a 
scruple, grain or atom. 

Maud. But I have. They have all been kind to 
me; the sisters do good, and the charity is a 
deserving one. 

Ca rt. Then you shall reward them as you think fit. 
Speak the word. It is my day of days, the 
climax of my prosperity. I am at peace with 
all the world. You shall reign supreme, and be 
tlie centre af attraction, the cynosure of admir- 
ing eyes, at party, ball and opera. 

Maud. The opera boxes are all taken. 

Cart. But your box will be secured, for I will 
build an opera house superior to the Academy, 
and import a company that will throw into the 
shade anything ever seen, or heard, or dreamt 
of in New York city. Gold is powerful, and 
by contact with beauty and family culture, will 
become magnetic, with the attractive prf)perties 
of the loadstone. 

Maud. Will you patronize the opera? 

Cart. With you, Maud, I will take my place where 
the social responsibilities call me. 'J'he diamond 
is hard, and will scratch into eveiy other min- 
ei-al. Its polish gives it beauty and transpar- 
ency. Wealth in its naked hardness resembles 
the lustreless unpolished diamond. A penny 
for your thoughts, Maud. 



63 

Maud, {starts up] They are not worth a penny. I 

was fancying your disapjiointment if Leonard 

Trellis should appear before us. 
Cakt. It would be great; but not visible by any 

sign from me. I will show my sense of fairness 

by naming him to the Bishop, and closing with 

this difficulty without delay. 

[Music. Procession of Cross-bearer, Acolytes, 

Sisters, etc., ENTER, l. u. and form at back.'] 

ENTER Colonel and Mrs. L. l. 1; 

Col. [l.] The bonds are transferred and are mine. 

The despatch forwarded to Secretary of War. 

The tide has turned, the struggle is over, and I 

rest on my oars. 
Cart. And my struggle is over and my triumph 

begins. Send Nolan to me. 
[Music] EXIT Colonel l. 1. 

ENTER M. S. and Bishop and Attendants l. u. 

Caut. [r.] Reverend Mother, as a friend of Miss 
Lyndhurst and her family, I would desire to 
express our thanks for the kindness and tender 
care bestowed upon her by yourself and the 
sisters during the two years she has been under 
your roof. 
,M. S". [l. c] Such an expression of thanks is not 
needed. We have one common rule of kind- 
ness constantly in force in every convent be- 
longing to our order. 

Cart. The expression may be better accepted if put 
into more tangible shape, [taking out paper]. 
At Miss Lyndhurst's request I gladly present 
to your order a tribute of fifty thousand dollars, 
with three building lots near Central Park. The 
gift is down as a memorandum, which the 
bishoii and yourself can witness. 

M. S. Your substantial gift does credit to your head 
and heart. It is welcome, and will never l)e 
foi'gotton by our order in our prayers. 

Bisii. [r. c] Vir. Cartridge, as a simple officiating 
bishop, under instructions from the Cardinal 
Archbishop, I will gladly witness the public 
promise of your gift, and in the name of the 
Bishop of the diocese, in which I am but a 
visitor, tender my heartfelt thanks, and pray 
heaven to reward you for so noble a donation. 
\tJiei/ go to table and sign.] 



64 
ENTER Co-LO-N-EL and Nolan, l. 1. 

Cart, [speaks to 'Nola's and crosses n.] There is 
one important matter which the family of Miss 
Lyndhurst would like to call your lordship' s 
attention to before proceeding into the chapel. 

BiSH. When once in the chapel, an interruption of 
the ceremony would be unseemly. The Mother 
Supei'ior, or her Confessor will be able to answer 
you. 

Cart. Miss Lyndhurst, when she entered this con- 
vent was engaged to be married. Her affections 
were pledged to a man whom she still loves. 
[consternation among the Nuns.] 

BiSH. This could hardly be the case. Her Director 
would know the fact and advise her accordingly. 
Speak daughter. 

Maud, [r.] The facts are as stated by Mr. Cart- 
ridge. I am engaged to Leonard Trellis. 

BiSH. And would you marry him if he appeared to 
enforce his claim ? 

Maud. 1 would. 

Cart. Miss Lyndhurst is not sure that Trellis 
would claim her hand. He is in the city, and 
is aware of the day and hour of this ceremon\^ 

BiSH. Do you speak for the family ? 

CoL. [l] He is speaking the truth, and the wish 
of the parents, that this important matter 
should be settled. 

BiSH. It is of the utmost importance. Such an en- 
gagement is binding. Where is your confessor 1 

M. S. Father Bailey, her late confessor, left its a 
few weeks ago to relieve Father Manna, who 
arrived last night. 

Cart. Father Manna! Did you say Father Manna ? 

M. S. I did. Our newly appointed chaplain. He 
had an interview with Miss Lyndhurst. 

Cart, [to Maud] Did you see Father Manna? 

Maud. I did, and spoke with him. He told me my 
duty and showed me the binding nature of my 
promise. 

Cart, [gasplvg] Where is he? [crosses to 'Nola'n] 
[aside] Nolan, guard the door ! Not a soul in 
or out on your peril ! Send Captain Mullins 
here ! Where isthis priest ? [EXIT Nolan. 

M. S. Your manner alarms me ! lie came last night, 
has been waiting for his baggage to robe for the 



65 

ceremony, and I ihinklias gone to inquire about 

it. 
Cart. Did you see him ? 
M. S. Of course I did, and spoke with liim. 
Cabt. Your Grace will proceed with this ceremony. 
BiSH. I cannot. The engagement is acknowledged! 
Caet. Then give your decision. 
BiSH. Maud Lyndhurst belongs to Leonard Trellis! 

He must be consulted. 
Caet. This ceremony has been announced in the 

papers and is public. What prevents his j)re- 

sence ? If he were faithful he would be here to 

claim her like a man ! 

ENTER Trellis and Judge Trevelyan, l. u. 

Trel. [c] He is here ! and claims her as his own ! 
Tableau. Maud rushes into Ms arms. 

ENTER Nolan l. 1. Cartridge rushes over to 
him, and whispers. 

Cart. Quick, the requisition ! 

NoL. \advancing\ Leonard Trellis, I arrest you for 
the murder of Father Manna ! 

All. Father Manna % 

Maud. Murder ! — Father Manna ! {she faints, sup- 
ported by Trellis and Mother Superior. 
Judge takes document from Nolan.] 

Judge, [r.] Reverend mother, you know that Father 
Manna is alive ! Conspiracy is here, revenge 
and foul slander ! 

Cart. Conspiracy ? Who are you to suggest this 
crime ? 

NoL. Judge Trevelyan, of the Supreme Court. 

Judge. And friend of Tieonard Trellis. 

Cart. Nolan, act upon your warrant. 

Judge. On your peril ! 

NoL. Why not. Judge ? 

Judge. It lacks the seal of the State ! 

Tableau. Cartridge rushes up, seizes paper, ex- 
amines it, then crushes and throws it down. 

QTTICK CURTAIN. 

Nuns Acolytes. Cross Bearer. Nuns. 

Bishop. M. S. Maud. Trellis. 

Judge. Cartridge. 

Col. M. L. Nolan. 

R. L. 



66 



ACT IV. 

SCENE — Trellis' Fifth Avenue Mansion, New 
TorTc. Reception Room. Centre Doors in flat, 
leading to Drawing Room r, Billiard Room l. 
Hall leading to street door l. 3, Street door, l. 1. 
Library door E. 2. Tables and Chairs l. and k. 

ENTER Footmen, l. 3. 

Foot, [^announcing at centre doors'] Mrs. Neville's 
carriage. 

ENTER Maud and Mrs. Neville, c d. followed 
by Michael. 

Mrs. N. I think I've told you all the news [arrang- 
ing dress. ] Have the G-rimson' s called ? 

Maud. [r. to Michael] Has Mrs. or Miss Grimson 
been here to-day ? 

Mich. I don't know, ma'am; there's been no end 
■ of 'em all the morning, [bringing card bas- 
ket and emptying it on table R.] 

Mrs. N. Mercy, what a heap ! Why you'll never 
be able to return all these calls. 

Maud. Not very well. But dinners and evening 
parties makeup for any deficiency of attention. 

Mrs. N. They tell me last Monday's affair was 
brilliant. How many had you ? 

Maud. Eighteen to dinner, and about one hundred 
at the concert. 

Mrs. N. And this evening* 

Maud. About the same number [turning oner 
cards.] Here's the Grimson' s card. 

Mrs. N. Now, Maud, if you love me, don't invite 
Mrs. Grimson. 

Maud. Why she's a great society woman. Her 
daughter married young Lord Sedgwick [laiigh- 
ing] and she knows the Prince of Wales. 

Mrs. N. That only makes her the more offensive. 
We want something more than heavy bullion 
society. 

Maud. You are right, Constance. Come early this 
evening and make yourself unusually attractive. 

Mrs. N. I'll make special efforts for your sake. 
Save me a good partner. 

Maud. How would you like Monteith I 



67 

Mrs. N. [surprised] The Marquis of Monteith — 
Duke of Sterling's son ? ^ 

Maud. Do you know him ? 

Mrs. N. [laiighing] Capital. He travelled with us 
in Norway; took us for a cruise in his yacht at 
Cowes, and actually walked into our box at the 
San Carlo. 

Maud. I'll save him for you. 

Mrs. N. You're an angel of a host. Ait revoir till 
this evening [Mss] EXIT l. 3. 

Maud. Anybody waiting 1 

Mich. [l.J Yes, ma'am, two or three in the break- 
fast room. 

ENTER Trellis, r. 2. 

Trel. [r. table] Michael, bring that bundle of maps 
from the billiard room. EXIT Michael. 

Ah, Maud, how goes the housekeeping ? 

Maud, [c] Beautifully. But surely, Leonard, you 
are not going to bury yourself with those old 
directors and committees 'i 

Trel. There's no escaping work, Maud! Our tran- 
sactions are spreading over the civilized world. 

ENTER MiCKAHL wit7i maps and EXIT. 

Maud. How do you mean ? 

Trel. Capitalists from Europe are rushing in with 
their spare cash to open out the wealth of our 
rocky mountains! Will to-night's party equal 
your last brilliant enterpi-ise ? 

Maud. Yes; and excel it! We shall have a delight- 
ful company to dinner; and as for the concert — 
the music, the flowers and fountains will be 
fairy-like ! 

Trel. The Arabian Nights will be nothing to it, eh 1 

Maud, Oh, Leonard, the supper will be as delicate 
as ambrosia and nectar; the concert will be 
exquisite; the leading opera singers and the 
orchestra the best in the world ! 

Trel. [looking ti,p from papers] Why you fairly 
take away my breath ! Is your account running 
low? 

Maud. Why no: I don't pay bills in detail. 

Trel. How then, wholesale 'i 

Maud. Listen. Pinard's bill will cover dinner, sup- 
per, wine, flowers and attendance. One cliecque 
satisfies him. 



• 68 

Trel. How considerate ! 

Maud. And Mantalini takes one cliecqne for a 
comijlete concert, with carriages for the opera 
people. 

Trel. Then you are not in want of money ? 

Maud. Of course not [sJwwing check-book.] I've 
nearly half a book fall left. 

Trel. Why, Maud, your financial talent is im- 
mense [kisses Jt.er]. 

Maud. I think its the easiest thing in the world — 
is business. 

ENTER Michael c. d. 

Mich. Mrs. and Miss Gallatin. 

Maud. Til see them at once. . EXIT Michael. 

[Trellis takes her tvp to c. d.] 

Trel. {looking after her] Why throw a shade of 
gloom over so sunny a picture \ I have labored 
for wealth, and it is mine. Care is also mine; 
and wealth is powerless against its oppressive 
weight. But why cross the bridge before we 
reach it ? Rather let the sword fall than suffer 
the anguish of Damocles. 

ENTER Michael l. 3., with card. 

Trel. [rea<im/7 crwo!] The Mother Superior. Admit 
her. EXIT Michael. 

ENTER Mother Superior l. 3. 

Trel. [r. c ] I am pleased to be at home to receive 
so distinguished a guest. Allow me [handing 
chair.] 

M.S. \taking seat x,. c] Not distinguished, but 
' perhaps unexpected. The business that de- 
mands a social visit from me must be urgent. 

Trel. Not to urge the return of Mrs. Trellis to the 
convent % 

M. S. [smiling] No; unless she is tired of the world 
and — 

Trel. Of me. 

M. S. Being tired of you would not release her now; 
my business concerns you more than her. Do 
you know where Father Manna is ? 

Trel. Father Manna ? 

M. S. Yes. You are aware he disappeared the day 
you claimed Miss Lyndhurst, and that you 
were charged with his murder ? 



69 

Trel. Yes: his murder before lie reached New 
York. A conspiracy whicli failed in its malice! 

M. S. Did you see him at the convent ? 

Trel. No. 

M. S. Nor since % 

Trel. No. 

M. S. Did you travel with him from the west ? 

Trel. No; he was dangerously ill when I left him 
in Colorado. 

M. S. And yet he arrived the day before you. 

Trel. I had no desire to arrive before the 8th of 
June — the day of the ceremony. I thought he 
was dying when I left him; and after settling 
up matters in several widely scattered camps I 
made my way to this city. 

M. S. How did you enter the convent % 

Trel. I came in a carriage with Judge Trevelyan. 

M. S. When did you leave the convent % 

Trel. Immediately my claim was admitted. 

M. S. His disappearance is mysterious. He has 
never been seen since he went for his baggage, 
nor have his trunks been found. \Pause.\ Do 
you know you are accused of murdering and 
personating him % 

Trel. I am aware I have a bitter and untiring 
enemy, whose whole energy is concentrated, 
upon my ruin. The Father Manna mystery is 
his chief weapon, and circumstances favor his 
attack. 

M. S. Do you mean John Cartridge % 

Trel. I do; though his gift to your convent must 
raise him in your estimation. 

M. S. He is highly esteemed by our best citizens. 

Trel. I am aware of it, and this estimation only 
makes his attack the more formidable. 

M. S. You appreciate the danger of your position? 

Trel. Most keenly. There is a skilfully woven net- 
work of circumstantial evidence closing in upon 
me with steady, but ceaseless contraction. 

M. S. Can't you break through it? 

Trel. Not at present; but I have confidence in the 
power of innocence, and the certainty of a final 
retribution. 

M. S. Retribution? 

Trel. In this life and death struggle — Cartridge or 
Trellis must fall. One of us is [guilty, and the 
end must be near. . " 



. 70 

M. S. And Maud ? 

Trel. Is kept from anxiety. She knows little or 
nothing of the noiseless conflict — of my inces- 
sant endeavors to tear off the claws of this 
murderous devil-fish ! 

M. S. Strong expression ! 

Trel. Mother, pardon my excitement. You do 
not know the devilish cimning of this masked 
hypocrite. T only ask you to suspend your 
judgment till my efforts result in some definite 
defence. 

M. S. In what direction ? 

Trel. Father Manna must be found dead or alive. 

M. S. Who will find him 1 

Trel. I will ! 

M. S. God help you ! 

Trel. Do you believe me guilty ? 

M. S. {gazing at him~\ No ? You are no murderer! 
I am satisfied of that ! 

Trel. Thanks! 

M. S. No more. Grood bye ! God bless yon ! {He 
is about to follow] Not another step. EXIT. 

ENTER Judge, c. d. 

Judge, [r ] I couldn't keep the committee any 
longer — they' re off to the Windsor to draw up 
a reply. 

Trel. One woi-d. Do you know who was with me 1 

Judge. I do; she believes yon innocent. 

Trel. Yes; but the trouble thickens. 

Judge. I see and know every move of the enemy. 
Oar hope is in Brackett's disclosure forcing on 
a lequisition for Cartridge. 

Trel. His influence in Colorado is overpowering. 
Brackett's close intimacy is proved; but the 
weight of Cartridge crushes out the life of Jus- 
tice ! 

Judge. Were Father Manna alive his honesty of 
purpose would stir up the sense of Justice, and 
the wealth of Cartridge would not screen him 
from the effects of Brackett's astounding con- 
fession ! 

Trel, And can my wealth do nothing to offset this 
influence ? 

Judge. Yes. 

Trel. If the impersonation could be proved — 

Judge. It would damage you, of course; but there 



71 

is no possible clew to such a discovery. 

Trel. You think not ? 

Judge. I am sure of it. Meanwhile our influence 
is rising out west, while the power of Cartridge 
is declining. The mining stock we sent to 
Denver has worked wondex's; it will revive their 
sense of justice. Can you spare any more ? 

Trel. Send out all that is needed to make them 
honest. Our metal must be heavier than the 
enemy's. 

Judge. The western press is with us. The crimes 
of Brackett are double leaded, and the name of 
Cartridge is dangerously prominent. 

Trel. And he knows it ? 

JuDGK-. Yes; and is actively at work heading you 
off, and bringing the Manna mystery to an ex- 
plosion. You and he just now occupy the 
westei-n press, which is not yet under his con- 
trol. Our success depends on coolness, activity 
and a serene countenance. 

ENTER Michael, o. d. 

Mich. The Marquis of Monteith is asking for you. 

Trel. Bring him in. [EXIT Michael. 

This mining business has grown beyond my 
control. I must have another secretary. 

ENTER Monteith, c. d. x. 

Trel. [c] Ah, Monteith, excuse me, I don't know 

which way to turn. How did you get along 

with your men i 
MoN. [l.] Awfully jolly fellows ! Weady to come 

down with their cash; but a. slight doubt about 

those old silver mines, you know. 
Judge, [r.] Just where my committee hang tire. 
TuEL. Tliey have no faith in old silver mines,'.eh ? 
MoN. Not the slightest; they pwefer the new gold 

ones ! 
Trel. And yet we know of no silver mines in the 

old or. new world which have given out. 
Judge. Not the old mines of Mexico ? 
Trel. No; they were worked by the Aztecs, nnd 

are worked still ! The mines of the Andes have 

poured forth their wealth for three centuries ! 
Judge. And those of old Spain ? 
Trel. Have been worked from the middle ages; 

and the silver mines of Hungary were opened 



72 

by the Romans before Caesar saw the white 

cliffs of Britain. 
MoN. And when did they give out ? 
Trel. Never! In fact, wherever silver has been 

found the mines are worked to this day ! 
Judge. Then silver mining for permanence and ricli 

returns — 
Trbl, Has never been matched by any other busi- 
ness. 
Moisr. That settles the question; Fm going knee 

deep into the silver business. 
Judge. So shall I. 

Trkl. And now, Monteith, take those three hund- 
red Terracinas from Lubin. They'll go up with 

a bound as soon as the next report is out. 
Mow. Thanks. Shall I keep the Montezunas, and 

Silver Plumes ? 
Trel. [smiling] l^otRJi hour I They are not mines 

at all ! Cartridge will get all the limestone he 

wants, but not a grain of gold ! 
MoN. But they went up to-day ! 
Trel. Yes, and may be sent up to-morrow; but 

they'll come down if the law of gravity still 

holds sway. 
MoN. [writinq in not", hook'] Thanks, awfully, 

Twellis! ' 
Judge, [with book] Do you know anything about 

El Rito « 
Trel. Nothing good. Don't touch it; but buy all 

you can of Los Pinos — they'll double soon ! 
MoN. I'll book that. May I give a tip to a friend ? 
Trel. Certainly ; use your information as you 

please; but remember we dine at eight sharp. 
MoF. Ta, ta, then, till this evening's feed. EXIT. 
Trel. I am anxious about Dave Selwyn. 
Judge. So am I; his silence is embarrassing. I am 

sorry you sent that tomb and cross. 
Trel. I respected the sleeper in the grave. I could 

do nothing less ! 
Judge. Dave might have done it — not you \ 
Trel. He will shoulder the responsibility. Dave 

is as true as steel. 
Judge. Possibly; but the tomb and cross point to 

the body of the missing priest ! 
Trel. And will clear me from the charge of m.urder. 
Judge. The corpse, if exhumed, would show the 

effects of a pistol shot. 



73 

Teel. Brackett's. 

Judge. He recovered from Brackett's attack and 
came to New York — to the convent. 

Trel. Well? 

■TuDGE. The persons who placed the tomb and cross 
must know how he got to the grave by the • 
cedars ! 

Trel. I see the difficulty. Cartridge can know 
nothing of this special troiible ! 

Judge.. He must know more than we fartcy, or he 
never would talk so triumphantly ! 

Trel. Where? 

Judge. Everywhere ! 

Trel. And the sum of his expectation ? 

Judge. To hang you, or at least see you in a con- 
vict' s dress ! 

Trel. Were I alone in this fight I would have more 
nerve. If Maud could be sheltered from the 
storm, I would close with him at once, and test 
the power of his grip. But he never hopes to 
convict me of murder ? 

Judge, ]!^^ot with your large fortune. 

Trel. Could wealth prevent it ? 

Judge. Yes; money could raise such a flood of 
legal objections that the day of judgment would 
swallow up the law courts before sentence could 
be passed upon a truly wealthy man. 

Trel. Possibly; but the "first cloud of suspicion 
would destroy Maud's happiness — an accusation 
of murder would kill her ! 

Judge. But rumor amounts to little. Brackett's 
confession falls unerringly on Cartridge, and 
must light up the dark deeds of his early 
western life. 

Trel. Then I stand at present — 

Judge. Clear from legal guilt, while your enemy is 
meshed in a web of well- wrought conviction ! 

ENTER Michael, l. 3., willi card. 

Trel. \takes card — starts^ Will you excuse me? 

Judge. Certainly; I'll stay in the library. [EXIT. 

Trel. Where is she ? 

Mich, [l.] In a close carriage. 

Trel. Just fasten those doors, and admit no one 

during this interview. EXIT l. 3. 

Mich, [fastening doors] Well of all wonders of 

this wonderful business this bates Bannagher 



74 

and Bannagher bates the divil ! Just to think 
of her gettiu' here, and me to the fore ! 

ENTER Trellis with Miwnie in large shawl. 
Trel. [l.c] Why, Minnie, you little mystery, you 

darling sphinx! 
Mm. [c] A what, Joe— a. sphinx? Oh, 1 know 

now, that big, ugly Egyptian monster that gave 

out riddles and gobbled up the poor wretches 

that could' nt guess them! Am I a sphinx, Joe? 
Trel. You're welcome, Minnie, sphinx or angel. 
MiN. [looking around\ What a beautiful house 

you have, Joe! Why its perfectly scrumptous! 

Gorgeous ! 
Tkel. Yes, yes; but where do you come from ? 
MiN. [gazing around excitedly'] It's coming on 

again, Joe, I am like the Queen of Sheba — 
Trel. Never mind the Queen of Sheba. 
MiN. [seeing Michael] Why, Joe, if that isn't our 

Mike, and dressed for a jiarty [runs to him'] 

Why you look charming ! 
Mich, [coming down r.] God bless you, Minnie, 

darlin' , and welcome ! 
Trel. Yes. yes, Minnie, Mike's all right, and knows 

our business. Do tell us where you come from. 
Mm. [mysteriously] Oli, Joe, listen ! Father and 

I foiind the little burial ground. 
Trkl. That's good! 
Mich. I knew Dave would manage it ! 
MiN. We took four Chinese who were going back 

with their bones to China! 
Trel. Whose bones ? 
MiN. Why their own bones of course ! Don't you 

know, Joe, they've got to carry their own bones 

to China, or have them sent after them if they 

wish to be happy in the Chinese heaven ? 
Trel. That' s so, Minnie. These Chinese were going 

to embark at Frisco, and not likely to blab, or 

return to the country. 
MiN. Bravo, Joe, you're as sharp as a meat-a.xe! 
Well with two good wagons we set off across 

the hills. 
Trel. And got to the grave — you said that before. 
Mtn- Did I ? But I never said how we got there. 
Trel. In the wagons. 

MiN. That's right, and we placed the pretty little 
tomb and cross just where there wasn't a sign 



75 

of a grave; for the grass was green, Joe, and 
the willows weexjing. 

Mich. Were they now, and what was the matter 
with them ? 

Mm-. Why, Mike, willows hang over the graves 
and weep. But there was no grave. 

Trel. No grave ? 

MiN. Only the two graves of the martyred priests. 

Trel. What did you do with the tomb and cross ? 

MiN. Placed them close to the other two graves. 

Trel. Did any one see you at work? 

MiN. Wait a moment. It was getting dark when 
father and his heathens had fixed the tomb, 
when who should we see coming over the hills 
but some men in a wagon. Father thought we 
had been followed. So we moved away from 
the graveyard and sheltered our camp in a hol- 
low among the hemlocks. 

Trel. And at length they reached the cedars. 

MiN. Yes, .Toe, and began to dig just under the new 
tomb. 

Trel. Dig? 

MiN. Yes, Joe, and they found no body. 

Trel. Are you sure? 

MlN. Father was looking on, and was forced to wit- 
ness the search, for the coroner was there. 

Trel. The coroner ! What was he doing there ? 

MiKT. Your enemy kept spreading the news that 
Father Manna had been secreted away and 
[viMspers'] murdered by you and pop. 

MiOH. Och, by the goats of Kerry, dye mind that ! 

Trel. Go on, Minnie ! 

MiN. And when all was over, what do you think, 
Joe ? Coroner arrested father ! 

Trel. Arrested him 1 

Mich. Arrested Dave and I not to the fore ! 

Trel. After finding no body ? 

Min. Because of that very fact. 

Trel. Did they arrest you ? 

Min. I was peeping from beliind the cedars. Father 
kne'iv I was there, so he called out loud. "I 
am glad my daughter is in New York with 
friends who will take care of her." I took the 
hint, waited till they were gone, crept softly 
back, hitched up the team, find left the Chinese 
asleep in' their wagon: 

Mich. Long life to you, Minnie, yon are a broth of 



76 

a boy entirely. 
Trel. And where did you go, Minnie ? 
MiN. Oh, what a night I had, crawling along a 

mountain road, not knowing what to do. At 

last I reached poor old Simpson's log hut, 

where we left Father Manna. 
TijEL. Where he died. 
MiN". He didn' t die there at all. 
Trel. Didn't die there — where then ? 
MiN. I don't know. While dying there two Sisters 

of Charity, who had been up in the hills for 

their health, had heard of the dying px'iest in 

the hnt, and had him removed. 
Mich. God bless them — they must have come from 

the Tiinidad Academy ! 
MiN. Yes; that's right, Mike! Bat what a search 

we had. 
Trel. Quick, Minnie, if you love me. 
MiN. I do, Joe, lots, though you're married, and T 

am glad you rescued lier, and I hope she'll be 

a good wife to you. Is she, Joe ? 
Trel. You aggravating little darling will you tell 

me if you found the sisters 1 
MiN. Yes, at Trinidad. 
Thel. Did you go there ? 
MiN. No; i sent Simpson to see father, and tell him 

what I had discovered, and came right on east. 
Trel. And you know nothing more ? 
MiN. Yes; at Kansas city my name was sung out, 

and a message delivered. 
Trel. What was the message, quick ! 
MiN. "Cleared from the charge; information from 

Trinidad; will follow up close !" 
Trel. Who took care of you on the road ? 
MiN. Who? Why a brave old miner from Colorado 

who knew me from a baby ! 
Trel. Mike, take Minnie to Mrs. Robins, and ask 

her to provide every comfort for her at once. 
MiN. No, no; I'm going to my annt's in 24th street. 
Trel. Stay, I must see Mrs. Trellis. Michael just 

attend to Jlinnie till I return. EXIT c. d. 

MrcH. If you only knew how mighty glad I am to 

see you, Minnie. Sure I don' t know how to 

spake to you at all, at all, for my heart's in my 

mouth every time I look at you. 
MiN. In your mouth, Mike ? 
Micir. That's just where it is, darling; but sure if I 



77 

could only give it into your care, it wouldn' t be 

troubling me any more. 
MiN. Just keep quiet lor a few minutes, Mike, I've 

got lot's to say of the most terrible importance. 
Mich. Ock ! holy farmer, do ye hear that ? 
MiN. \i7ielo-dramatic] Canst thou keep secret what 

thou hear est ? 
Mich, [same style] I canst, thou pearl of my eye, 

if its from you it com'st ! 
Min. Are you still devoted to Joe — a true friend ? 
Mich. As steady as the rocks of Gibralter. Shall 

I swear ? 
Min. You dare — 
Mich. Not a camp swear, Minnie, but a court of 

justice oath ! 
Mist. A court of justice gi'andmother. Come here. 

Can you read that ? {^showing paper.'] 
Mich. Mrs. Sarah Selleck, 394 East 24th street. 
Min. That's right; my father's sistei'. ISTow, just 

come closer — closer. Just pretend to be mak- 
ing lov(i. \Jie kisses her.] 
Min. Uh, Mike, I'll tell Joe ! 
Mich. I couldn't help it, Minnie, if I was going to 

be shot. It was only a little one. Sure if you 

have no objection I'll take it back again. 
Min. Not just now, Mike. I won't tell Joe, but 

listen. 
Mich. I am listening, Minnie. 
Mint. Well, father's there {^pointing to paper] 

Arrived this morning, followed bj^ detectives. 

Doesn't want to comjiromise Joe; but want's 

to come here unknown to Joe or detectives. 
Mich. I understand. Did Dave come with you ? 
Min. Yes; I waited for him at Topeka, as directed 

by telegram. 
Mich. And who was the old miner who travelled 

. with you ? 
Min. My father, who knew me from a baby. 
Mich, [laughing] You ought to be a lawyer or a 

bishop, Minnie. 
Min. If I were a priest would you confess your 

sins to me ? " " 

Mich. Would I « Faith I'll confess to you now, 

darlin', and you'll absolve me, I know, without 

a big penance, [om knees] 

ENTER TuKLLis c. d. 



78 

Trel. A-h, Mike, I've caught you. 

MiN. He couldn't help it, could you Mike? 

Mich. Indeed, then, I couldn' t if I was going to be 
lynched for it, saving your presence. 

Trel. We'll forgive him then. Come this vi^ay, 
Minnie. Mrs. Trellis will see you before you 
go. y fakes lier off c.j}. and returns. 

Mike could you wire Dave between this and 
Denver % I am getting anxious about his ab- 
sence. 

Mich. Leave it to me, and I'll Hash such messages 
along the whole route as will make Dave Selwyn 
the best known man between this and the 
Rocky Mountains. Its myself that knows the 
workings of them telegraphs. EXIT c. D. 

Trel. One step. One little step from honor's path, 
and down we plunge to hopeless misery ! To 
personate the priest seemed mete and just when 
personation was the only means to stop the 
fatal vow. And now there lurks a hidden 
danger in that simple act that cannot be avowed. 
The more I strive to reach again the path of 
open truth the more this one deception weighs 
me down ! 

ENTER MAtiD, c. D., in carriage dress. 

Trel. Ah, Maud, did you see Minnie ? 

Maud. [l. c] Yes; what a refreshing bit of un- 
polished nature. I think she's charming. Its 
fun to hear her rattle oflf her string of unstudied 
phrases. We are so miserably aiiected and 
imitative. Whom do you think I met Just now 
in the park % 

Trel. The king of the Cannibal Islands. 

■Maud., Not quite — the Duke of Carrara ! 

Trel. Don't know his grace. 

Maud. Not your friend John ? 

Trel. Cartridge? 

Maud. Yes; and he bowed so politely, and spoke 
so affably. 

Trel. Spoke? 

Maud Why yes. He pulled up his fast team along 
side the carriage, and was all smiles and jeweled 
shirt fi'ont. 

Trel. What did he say ? 

Maud. Ever so much. He's comino; round to see 



79 

Trel. Me, when j 

Maud. This evening, on business. He was very- 
jolly, and looked ten years younger. 

Trel. If so he has struck a seam of good luck, and 
means mischief. 

Maud. Leonard, I remember the time when the 
name of Cartiidge seemed to gall and irritate 
you. 

Trel. Yes, when he stood between us. 

Maud. Yes: but after our marriage his name had 
no power to annoy, you seemed to pity and 
despise him. 

Trel. True, and now ? 

Maud. You seem to fear him. 

Trel. {^smiling'] Indeed ! 

Maud. Yes; at a time too when you have power 
and influence. Can he harm you ? 

Trel. He was badly beaten in his last engagement, 
and is the same vindictive John, and will 
undermine and burrow like a fox. 

Maud. To get at your hen-roost; but we don't keep 
chickens. 

Trel. True; but I keep a dove, who is easily flut- 
tered. 

Maud. But a fox can't reach a dove-cote. We 
have nothing to fear frorti him. 

Trel. I hope not — let us forget him. 

Maud. Will you be angry if I tell you— 

Trel. What? 

Maud. That I asked him to dinner. 

Trel. Cartridge ? 

Maud. Yes; do you mind? 

Trel. No; if you have room. 

Maud. Well I thought it so good of him to show 
such complete forgetfulness of my last victory 
and his depkirable defeat. 

Trel. [I.ooJdng at waicJi] Why its time to dress for 
dinner, and I have yet a score of , important 
matters to attend to. 

Maud. I must go and prepare for the guests 

" EXIT 0. D. 

Trel. Cartridge making overtures, and coming 
round this evening! He never acts without a 
purpose; and this last move is fraught witli 
hidden mischief. I ought to have shown her 
the full import of the dark shadow that fore- 
tells the dreaded event. But her knowledge of 



80 

the danger would not influence the course of 
events, but would bring misery and agony. 
No, if I cannot avoid I must brace up my nerves 
for the collision, and trust to courage and self- 
possession ! 

ENTER Servant, l. 3., loitli card. 

Tkel. Show him in. EXIT Servant. 

I shall never get a moment's breathing time. 

ENTER Nolan l. 3. 

Ah, Nolan, what news? 

NoL. \loL-lis Library door, and, places handcuffs 
on handles of c. d. Excuse this precaution. 

TiiEL. Don't mention it. What is your last dis- 
covery ? 

Nor,. [L. c] Trellis and Father Manna one and the 
same. 

Trel. Proof. 

NoL. Coachman found who drove priest from con- 
vent to Judge Trevelyan's and brought back 
Trellis in same carriage. 

Trel. The same carriage could carry both. 

NoL. Yes; but it didn't. 

Trel. How do you know ? 

NoL. Priest got in with grey hair, Roman collar and 
spectacles: the same got out with black hair, 
civilian collar and no specs. 

Trel. Well? 

NoL. And sent in card of Leonard Trellis. 

Trel. Is this known for a dead certainty \ 

NoL. "Witnesses sworn — affidavits with John C. 

Trel. Anything more ? 

NoL. Murdered priest's body hidden by Trellis and 
Selwyn. 

Trel. Why murdered ? 

NoL. Father Manna is not alive: his remains cannot 
be found. Trellis and Selwyn say he was shot, 
and adorn a sham grave with tomb and cross ! 

Trel. Is this all « 

NoL. All. 

Trel. Are you working for Cartridge ? 

NoL. Yes; and for ycu. 

Trel. And for any one else? 

NoL. Yes; the Mother Superior and the Vicar 
General. 

Trel. And^ 



81 

NoL. No one else — at present. 

Trel. Do they all pay yon ? 

NoL. All. 

Trel. Thank you, Nolan; call round this evening. 

NoL. Am ordered here for dinner. 

Trel. Ordered here for dinner ? 

NoL. Not to feed; but to wait on John. Will be 
his footman and wait in the hall. 

Trel. Do you want any money ? 

NoL. A little. 

Trel. How- much ? 

NoL. Fifty dollars will do. 

Trel. [gives bill] I may have to speak to yon to- 
night. 

NoL. Light hair, and straw colored whiskers, 

Trel. [smiling] I'll remember. 

[Nolan unfastens doors and EXIT. 

Trel. Two months ago I stood erect in firm reliance 
upon truth and right; but now I cower before 
a dreaded storm nerveless and stunned, without 
the power to act. A steel-wrought chain of 
circumstantial guilt has grasped my soul with 
one sad, crooked link — and Cartridge holds 
that chain. Though girt around with heavy 
proven guilt, he stands erect with faith in 
strategy and power of gold. EXIT. 

ENTER Michael, showing in Monteith, l. 3. 

MoN. Don' t mind announcing me. I am early I 
know. 

ENTER Mrs. Neville, l. B. 

Mrs. N. [c] Why the Marquis of Monteith ! 
MoN. [r.] Why biess my sou], Mrs. Neville, as I'm 

a living sinner ! [shakes hand^ 
Mrs. N. Are you ? 
MoN. Well, yes, a twifle; but I am awfully glad to 

see you. Let me see — Norway. 
Mrs. N. Stockholm. 
Mon. Cowes 
Mrs. N. San Carlo. 
Mon. Rome. 
Mrs. N. And New York. How is your friend, 

Lennox ? 
Mon. Oh, awfully jolly — at least pwetty misewable 

—had to join his regiment at Candahar, or 

some awfully slow place. 



82 

Mrs. N. [seeinff Ids booJc] Are you dealing in 
mining stock ? 

MoN. Wather. Evewy fellow's at it who knows 
Twellis. Are you in the swim? Excuse my 
slang. 

Mrs. N. Certainly, I made three hundred dollars 
this afternoon. 

MoN. I did a good deal better. Bought a lot of 
Los Pinos while the stock exchange was wait- 
ing for the official report. A depweciating 
wumor was circulated about Los Pino. 

Mrs. N. I know, and sold all I had on account of 
that rumor. 

MoN. Oh, Jewussalem ! What a pity ! It was a 
bogus alarm to bear the stock. Twellis was 
certain the weturns would give three hundred 
ounces of silver to the ton, for he had the ore 
assayed himself. 

Mrs. N. When was the report published ? 

MoN. This morning, and the stock has been vdsing 
like an escaped balloon. 

Mrs. N. Dear me ! Is it too late? 

Mow. Not at all. Shall I wun out and buy you 
some ? 

Mrs. N. What to-night ? 
' MoN. Why yes; there's a busy exchange at the 
Sturtevant every evening. 

Mrs. N. How good of you. If you would kindly 
telegraph to Walter Morgan, the Elms, Stam- 
ford, to buy forty. \^sits at tabl". R.] 

MoN. Say a hundred, if you've got the titi (excuse 
me — the funds) for its sure pop; no hedging. 
All pwizes, no blanks. Awfully jolly book- 
making 

Mrs. N. Here goes then. I'm in for a cool hundred 
shares \^gives paper. '\ 

MoN. And you're in for a sure wise. Will soon be 
back. 
siMrs. N. . \looMng at book'] Wait a moment. Every 
"share Maud recommended has moved up. I 
must ask about the Rincones. 

MoN. I will tell you in confidence that a tip from 
Twellis is worth diamonds. 

Mrs. N. I know its worth nuggets; [whispers'] but 
he's a murderer ! 

MoN. {writing in bool'] Is he? Then he's an awful 
jolly murderer! I thought murderers were 



83 

beastly cads. Whom did lie murder ? 
Mrs. N. Don't speak so loud — an old missionary 

priest. 
Mow. \laugJis'] Capital ? Awfully jolly news ! Did 

he eat the missionary ? 
Mrs. N. Very likely, for his body can't be found ! 
Mow. [conmdsed toith lauglder^ The Jolliest news 

to-day ! Did you say he was old % 
Mrs. N. Yes, old and infirm. 
Mow. Then he must have been pwecioiis tough ! 
Mrs. N. Its no laughing matter, but desperately 

serious. 
MoN. I can't stop for the life of me. Twellis eating 

a missionary ! Awfully jolly news ! I'll tele- 

gwaph to your bwoker. Its too awfully jolly ! 

Don' t give it away till dinner ! A tough old 

missionary ! EXIT l. 3. laughing. 

Mrs. N. Monteith is right when he says he's a jolly 

murderer, \_sits at table r. writing in book.'] 

ENTER Michael showing in Cartridge, l. 3. 

Mich. Mr. Trellis was here a few moment's ago. 

Cart. [l. c] Don't trouble — am in no hurry. Ah, 
the charming Airs. Neville ! [EXIT Mioiiakl. 

Mrs. N. [rising] Why, Mr. Cartridge, I never ex- 
pected to meet you here. I thought you and 
Mr. Trellis were enemies. 

Cart. Enemies meet sometimes. 

Mrs. N. True; but not usually at dinner parties. 

Cart. Tht'y meet at the place and time suitable for 
conflict. 

Mrs. N. Conflict? You are surely not going to 
light ! 

Cart. We have 1 een manoeuvring onr forces for 
some weeks past. I've been advancing and re- 
treating in good order, but slowly nearing the 
point of conflict. 

Mrs. N. But Trellis didn't seem to be in the field. 

Cart. No; he was strongly intrenched — his works 
almost impregnable. The labor was gigantic 
that tore them down. 

Mrs. N. Are they really torn down ? 

Cart. At last. You will see him droop to-night 
like a scorclied flower, and his convent wife 
crying for mercy ! 

Mrs. N. And you will rejoice? 

Cart. With a joy for which I've thirsted as a 



84 

parched desert thirsts for rain! This night will 
give me a brilliant victory, and an audience to 
witness my triumph ! But 1 am risking the 
completeness of the final victory by this pre- 
mature disclosure. Your hero will give his last 
banqnet to-night. 

ENTER Maud in evening dress, c. d. 

Maud, [c] Ah, Mr. Cartridge, most of our guests 
■ are being shown into the drawing-room. Allow 

me, Constance, [shoioing Iter through c. d.] 
Cart. [l. hows'] We shall all meet at dinner, so it 

matters little where we collect our forces. Is 

Mr. Trellis entertaining his friends ? 
Maud. I think he is still dressing. I am almost 

sorry his enteri)rizes are so successful. 
Cart. Are they ? 
Maud. Why yes: he seems to be hurried through 

existance on a sweeping flood of jDrosperity in- 
stead of floating on a quiet tide of business. 
Cart, [smilmg] Then you are satisfied that, his 

prosperity is genxiine % 
Maui). Perfectly; but your look is not assuring. 

You are not vindictive ? 
Cart. I am vindictive enough to repel force by force. 
Maud. The very words of Dry den. Do you read 

poetry ? 
Cart. I read but little; but mark and inwardly 

digest. 
Maud. Then "mark the perfect man, and behold 

the upright: for the end of that man is peace." 
Cart. Who is the pei-fect man ? 
Maud. The man who is free from mean revenge, 

who seeks the happiness of others, who tries to 

follow the path of duty, and is not consumed 

with Jealousy. 
Cart. My dear madam, there are few such men. 
Maud. More than you dream of. My husband is 

such a one. 
Cart. [smUing'] It is well for him he has your 

good opinion. He will need something more 

than a character from you. 
Maud. What do you mean? 
Cart. I mean that you would hardly be received 

as a witness to the honesty of a man with whom 

you conspired to defraud the authorities of a 

convent. 



85 

Maud. Mr. Cartridge, I can now see through your 

motive in obtaining an invitation to my house 

under false pretences ! 
Cart. False pretences ? 
Maud. Yes, under a plea of business. 
Cart. I have very urgent business with Mr. Trellis; 

but had no intention of broaching the subject 

before dinner. 
Maud. Once broached you will please continue and 

explain your insolent allusion to the convent. 

ENTER Trellis, c. d. 

Cart. He will answer for himself. Your wife has 
valiantly thrown dowa her g'liage. I pick it 
up, though reluctantly, at tliis unseasonable 
moment. 

ENTER Michael l. 3. 

Trel. [to Michael] Show all the guests into the 

drawing-room {coming down, c] Proceed, sir. 

[Michael goes out l. 3. and returns. 

Cart. An accidental explosion. We are here for 

pleasure not for controversy. 
Maud. [r. c] No, sir, proceed with your insolence. 
Trel. Your allusion to the convent — 
Cart. You challenge me % 
Trel. Yes, and defy you ! 
Cart. Then take the consequence ! Did you not 

personate Father Manna in the convent % 
Trel. I did, to baffle your villainous plots ! 
Cart. You did, eh % Did you murder him for the 

same reason % 
[Maud utt'irs an exclamation of alarm. Trellis 
approaches her.] 

Trel. You will please respect your host's presence. 

You have no authority to question or insinuate. 
Cart. 1 beg pardon, I liave authority to arrest you 

as a cowardly murderer ! 

[Trellis, /lies at 7iim. Mich avAj advances. Nolaw 
ENTERS c. D. and Jumps between them.] 

NoL. [to Trellis] Step this way, sir, and see the 
papers [presenting warrant and pointing to 
Library. Cartridge m.oves first and goes in. 
Trellis pauses, looks at Nolan, then hurries 
in. Nolan follows, closing door. Maud 
faints in chair. Michael runs to her side.] 



EISTTEE, Treveltan L. 3. 

Judge. Speak, child, what is it — where' s Leonard? 

Maud, [sobbing pointing'] In there. ': 

Mich. Cartridge, the old rapscallion, and an officer 
arrested him — 

Maud For murder! [sobbing'] 

Judge. My dear madam, you can only aid him by 
a calm deportment. Move among your friends 
to allay suspicion, and this trouble will, I trust, 
be settled before dinner. 

Maud. Will they take him back to Denver ? 

Judge. No. Don't let your guests see a clouded 
face. Cartridge must not triumph to-night ! 
{takes her out c. d.] 

Mich. Begorra and he sha'n't! I'll put a flea in 
his ear that will give him the divil's own trouble 
to get rid of ! So the battle has begun in earn- 
est ! Now, Mike, grasp your opportunity; 
show your native worth, and help the only 
friend who ever gave you help ! Oh ! if it was 
only a rough stand-up tight wouldn' 1 1 just bie 
in my glory knocking them down like nine-pins! 
But I must be as cunnin' as an ould fox, and 
keep my weather-eye open, and my heaviest 
mental artillery pointed at Cartridge ! Whist, 
Mike, here comes the judge. 

RE-ENTER Judge. 

Judge. Sad work here. Mike. Did you send off 
,. : the message? 

Mich. I did, and I've got an answer. 
Judge. An answer? i 

Mich. Ay, and a good one too. [whispers] 
Judge. Are you sure ? 

Mich. As sure as you're a livin' sinner, and every 
lawyer is that same ! 

RE-ENTER Cartridge, Trellis and Nolan. 

Trel. [c] Never more welcome. Judge, I am ar- 
rested for the murder of Father Manna ! Will 
you look at the papers ? 

Judge, [l. c] I know their nature: have seen the 
requisition from Colorado ! 

Cart, [r.] And it does not lack the seal of the 
State ! 

Judge. No; but it seems to be indecent in a guest 
to arrest his host at any time; and an outrage 



87 

on the company to do it before dinner! 

Cart. Judge Trevelyan, I am sorry this unpleasant- 
ness has occurred at this time. I was driven 
into it. 

Tbel. I am glad you over-shot your zeal. It has 
saved me from the ignominy of breaking bread 
with such a treaclierous villain ! 

Cart A villain is a milder rascal than a murderer ! 

Judge. Do you seriously believe my friend mur- 
dered Father Manna ? 

Cart. My opinion has no weight, one way or the 
other. He personated a man who cannot be 
found, dead or alive. ■ He was in possession of 
his papers, and had a tomb-stone placed over a 
bogus grave ! As a judge you will see the drift 
of this evidence. 

Judge. Father Manna's body may still be found. 

Cart. Yes, when tlie murder lias been confessed. 
But every hut and village has been ransacked 
without finding the shadow of a trace of tlie 
missing priest, who was well known to every 
miner in Colorado. 

Trel. I am well aware of the weight of the charge, 
and feel the force of the evidence. Personating 
the priest is not a crime of irself. No one 
• suffered by the decejjtion, while a life-long 
wrong was j'ighted by that brief and harmless 
deceit. As. for the charge of murder I caa 
offer no proof of my innocence till Dave Selwyn 
returns from the search — 

Cart. Dave Selwyn was not sent to search, but lo 
cover np your mutual tracks. 

Trel. I would j)refer a Court of Justice to this 
man's insults. Advise me, judge. Am I to 
surrender on this warrant ? 

Judge. Mr. Cartridge knows that a day's delay 
would jirobably bring you some news from 
Selwyn. 

Cart. He shall not have a minute. We are now 
clinched in mortal ccmibat. His guests must 
know that this brilliant, hero is an arrested 
murderer ! 

Judge. But not a convicted one ! 

Cart. Not yet; but even cleai-ed from the final rope 
the suspicion will cling to him and drag him 
down from his exalted pinnacle ! 

Judge. Then you won't wait for the arrival of Dave 



Selwyn ? 

Cart. Not another minute. ]S olan, take charge of 
yonr man. 
[Nolan coming doion r. o. with, Tiandcvffs.~\ 

Mich, {stepping between Nolan and Trellis] 
Aisy now, aisy there with your bracelets, Mr. 
Nolan. May be my evidence may throw some 
light on this dark question. 

Judge. It may latei'^ Mike, but there is no trial at 
present; you can only swear that you didn't 
see any murder. 

Mich. Troth then you're wrong entirely, yer honor! 
Sure I could take an oatli on a stack of bibles 
as big as the tower of babel that I saw the 
m urder ! 

Judge. Not Father Manna's murder? 

Mich. The very same. I was present when the 
villain shot him and ran for his life. Didn't T 
follow and strike him down as he was springing 
from Larry' s ledge, and didn' t I help to lynch 
him, bad scran to him; but Joe saved him ? 

Judge. Whom did he save? 

Mich. The scoundrel Brackett, who was working 
for Mr. Cartridge here ! 

Cart. Enough of this tomfoolery. Yonr informa- 
tion, my man — 

Mich. Faith, I'm not yonr man ! 

Cart. Judge Trevelyan, out of respect to your 
judgment I have endured this irrelevant non- 
sense You will admit this man's evidence 
doesn't help your friend. 

Judge. It certainly does not. Your intention is 
good, Mike; but it is Dave Selwyn whom we 
want just now. 

Mich. Is it Dave you're wantin' ? 

Judge. He is the only man can aid -us at present. 

Mich. Sure if he's the only man you want, and 
you won't listen to me, I must bring Dave him- 
self to the fore ! 

Cart. Bring him from where ? 

Mich From just outside the door, Mr. Cartridge, 
by yer leave, [goes to c. d. and brings Dave 
in dressed as a groom. ] 

Cart. I've no pati,ence with this silly jugglery — 

Mich. Whist now, my bouchal ! Won't yer wait 
a bit till I prepare him for yer presence ! Come 
out of yer shell, Dave, and speak for yourself. 



89 

\takes off overcoat and hat. Tableau. In- ' 
troducmg Mm.'] Mr. Dave Selwyn, from. Colo- 
rado — Mr. Cartridge, late of the same place ! 
Make your bow, Dave ! 

Tbel. Sjuslies to Dave and clasps Ids liand.'] 

Cart, [^smiling] What another Impersonation ? 
These old tricks had better be abandoned. 
Selwyn is a prisoner in Denver ! 

Mich. Is he now? Faith, then, he must be like the 
bird — in two places at the same time ! 

Dave, [c] What, John, you don't seem to wel- 
come me as much as when Father Manna and I 
saved your life from the howling mob at Denver. 
■ Don't you remember? 

Cart. I remember that you and your friend here 
will have to return to Denver, unless you can 
find the body of Father Manna, and prove his 
natural death ! 

Dave, {smiling'] I guess not, John. 

Cart. Why not? 

Dave. Because I've found the body. 

Cart. Eh ! Where is it ? 

Dave. In the carriage. Shall I bring it in ? 

Cart. No; this is no place for a body. It would 
have to be identified. 

Mich. Identified is it ? Faith didn't I see him my- 
self ? Sure he' s the finest corpse I ever saw, 
dead or alive ! 

Dave. You can identify him. You clung to him 
close when he saved your life. Come, Mike, 
help me in with the body. 

Mich. Indeed, then I will, Dave; though not par- 
tial to corpses, I was never afraid of a good 
priest dead or alive, [going to c. d.] 

Cart. Stop. Was the body awaiting interment ? 

Dave. No; it was awaiting strength to remove fi'om 
the convent. 

Cart. What do you mean ? Is the body alive ? 

Dave. Yes ; though not very strong. Here^'it 
comes. Judge for yourself ! 

ENTER Father Manna, c. d., pale and feeble. 

Trel. [gras2^ing his hand] Thank God, you are 
alive ! 

ENTER Maud, Mrs. Neville, Minnie, Mon- 
teith and guests, c. d. 



90 

MAtJD. [rushes into Tvi'ELJAs'' arms.] 

Judge. Where have you been liiding, Father Manna? 

F. M. [c] Not consciously biding; but slowly re- 
covering from a delirious fever in a remote cor- 
ner of Colorado, and forbidden to write, talk or 
even think. 

Trel. [l.c] And the good sisters who watched your 
life— 

P. M. Yes, literally watched it as it hung in the 
balance — seemed afraid to ask for instructions, 
and were ignorant of my plans. 

Cart, [r.] Why did you leave the convent before 
you were well ? 

F. M. A. message from Denver informed me that 
Dave was in prison charged with murder. My 
appearance liberated him. 

Judge, [l.] Who wounded you ? 

F. M. A man calling himself Brackett, when trying 
to kill Leonard Trellis, and acting under' 
instructions from his employer, John J. Cart- 
ridge [pointing to Mm.'] ■[■] 

Cart. A foul, slanderous and devilish lie ! I had r 
no connection with the scoundrel. 

F.'M. This man Brackett was found to be the leader 
of a gang of western robbers, and is anxious to 
turn States evidence ! 

Cart. His oath is as valuable as his cursed signa- 
ture. 

F. M. He has written, instructions from persons of 
present good standing in society that throw a 
liarid light on some ghastly deeds of western 
life. 

Cart. No one here is interested in Brackett. We 
are wasting valuable time. Father Manna, 
your appearance has, of course, freed your 
friend from the charge of murder, and has lifted 
a load of gloom from all of us, who are his 
honored giaests. You will excuse me, my dear 
Mrs. Lyndhurst, if I decline the pleasure of 
hearing the melo-dramatic story of this rocky 
mountain bandit, [crossing.] 

F. M. Mr. Cartridge, the melo-dramatic story of 
Brackett will soon be widely circulated. His 
trial will take place at Denver as soon as John 
J. Cartridge arrives. 

Oart. [laughing] Then the Denver folks will wait 
till the day of judgment. 



91 

F. M. The day of trial will precede the day of judg- 
ment. The requisition was made out in my 
presence, and forwarded to the Governor of this 
State before I left Denver. 

Cart. Excuse my bluntness, reverend joker; but 
you must tell that story to the marines. The 
combined executive authority of Denver, with 
its legislature thrown in, would not dare to 
move a finger against me without my knowledge 
and authority. 

NoL. [r.] Pardon me, Mr. Cartridge,, the requisi- 
tion referred to by the good priest, arrived 
yesterday, and was actually seen in the Attor- 
ney General's office this afternoon. 

Cart. By whom ? 

NoL. Your humble servant, to whom it was de- 
livered for execution. 

Cart. A foul, leprous lie ! Where is it now ! 

NoL. [crossing] Behold it ! 

Mich. Hoorah ! God bless the governor ! Look, 
John, it doesn't lack the seal of the State ! 

Cart. Enough ! We will walk together to my 
lawyer's. 

Nox. Sorry to disoblige, but I must put on the 
bracelets. No risks. 

Cart. Quick then and away. 

Trel. Your last stronghold — your power of gold — 
has surrendered to a stronger power — .the 
power of Justice ! 

Maud, [l.c] Mr. Cartridge, do you remember my 
words : "Mark the perfect man and behold the 
upright for the end of that man is peace." 

F. M. And the following verse is aj^propriate: "But 
the transgi'essors shall be destroyed together: 
the end of the wicked shall be cut oflf." 

CURTAIN. 

GtTESTS. Guests. 

F. Manna. Trellis. Maud. 

Dave. Judge. 

Minnie. , Mrs. Neville. 

Monteith. Cartridge. 

Michael. Nolan. 

R. L. 












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